Multiple people hospitalized, fatalities reported in chemical tank implosion at Longview paper mill

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]Starting with a deadly chemical tank rupture in Long View. We know that multiple people were killed this morning when a tank imploded, exposing workers to a costic chemical inside. This happened just after 7 this morning at the Nippon Dino Wave facility in Long View. It's a place that's been the site of several emergencies in the past years. We've got team coverage for you now this afternoon. Kyle Bosshi is looking into the facility's past issues.

[00:00:24]But first, let's get to Deon Haskins with the latest from the scene. Devin.

[00:00:29]Well, Tim, right now there's still a lot of unknowns when it comes to the number of fatalities in this implosion here at the Nippon plant. Right now, we do know that 10 people were taken to the hospital. A firefighter uh was among those 10, he was treated or that firefighter was treated and released. Of those nine that went to the Peace Health St. John Hospital here in Long View, uh we're told that four have been transferred to other hospitals, three have been discharged, one was in fair condition, and one had died.

[00:00:59]Around 7:15 Tuesday morning from one respond industrial way at Nippon for a hazmat burn.

[00:01:07]>> A major hazmat response at the Nippon Dinoway packaging plant in Long View.

[00:01:12]>> We're reporting a tank imploded. It looks like there's three people with chemical burns and one subject is missing. The tank that ruptured was being used to store white liquor, which is a highly costic alkaline solution used to break down solid wood chips in the pulp and paper production process.

[00:01:28]>> The initial information is it was roughly an 80,000galon tank that was roughly 60% full.

[00:01:38]>> It's still unclear what caused the implosion. Of the nine people that went to the hospital, Peace Health says four were transferred, three discharged, and one was in fair condition. One person that was transported has died.

[00:01:50]>> Just a great human being.

[00:01:51]>> One of the victims in the implosion is Gilbert Bernol, identified by family through their pastor, Jim John of Journey Adventist Church.

[00:01:58]>> Pastor John says he's been with the family all day.

[00:02:02]>> Very, very broken. Um, and uh, it's a big loss for their family because of Gilbert. the way he the way he lived his life, the way he loved his family, the way he provided for his family. Um, uh, just a a wonderful a wonderful person.

[00:02:22]>> Bernal had worked at the plant for about 15 years as an electrician working on boilers and anywhere he was needed.

[00:02:28]>> Gilbert was um, always willing to help anybody uh, no matter what the situation was. He was very mechanical, very, very good with his hands. He was a husband, a father, a grandfather, and friend.

[00:02:41]>> He's not just a church member. He's a friend. And so, um, that's that's the hard part. I I need to be here for our church family and the family at the same time. I'm grieving and, uh, because I'm going to miss him a lot.

[00:02:58]>> Fire officials saying today they are now in recovery mode with several people still missing.

[00:03:06]Washington Governor Bob Ferguson is expected to be down here in Long View later today. We've also seen Washington Department of Ecology hazmat teams here on site. Governor Ferguson says LNI teams will also be down here. We're expecting another update around 7 o'clock this evening. Back to you.