Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyle(AP)A chemical explosion occurred at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging paper mill in Longview, Washington, on Tuesday around 7:15 a.m. local time. The incident was caused by the rupture of a tank containing "white liquor," a chemical used in paper production, which was approximately 60 percent full of its 80,000-gallon capacity. Officials have confirmed multiple fatalities and multiple critical injuries, with nine workers and one firefighter initially transported to local hospitals; the firefighter has since been released. First responders, including a hazmat team, were on site, and authorities were still searching for unaccounted individuals as of Tuesday afternoon. While there is no immediate threat to the community, officials have asked the public to avoid the area as investigation and recovery efforts continue. In fullFatalities reported after chemical explosion at Washington paper millThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

A tank of white liquor imploded at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company in southern Washington state on Tuesday.

A tank of white liquor imploded at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company in southern Washington state on Tuesday.