Nippon Dynawave Packaging tank was unfit for service before deadly failure

Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company chemical tank failure workplace disaster U.S. Chemical Safety Board Longview Washington

A federal report from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board reveals that a chemical tank at a Washington state paper mill was deemed “not fit for continued service” ten months before a catastrophic failure in May 2026.

The failure at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company facility in Longview killed 11 people and injured several others, including a firefighter. The incident released roughly 900,000 gallons of white liquor, a caustic liquid used in paper production, which was powerful enough to blow out building walls.

Investigators found that while an inspection contractor provided recommendations for shell repairs and internal inspections as early as July 2025, the company failed to act on them. Subsequent inspections in October 2025 and February 2026 confirmed that significant portions of the tank remained thinner than the minimum safe wall thickness. Despite these warnings, the company did not remove the tank from operation or reduce its service capacity.

Entities

Longview · Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company · U.S. Chemical Safety Board · Washington

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The May 26 tank failure in Longview, Washington, killed 11 people. www.bangordailynews.com · www.troyrecord.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company did not implement recommendations for internal inspections and shell repairs between July 2025 and May 2026. www.bangordailynews.com · www.troyrecord.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The tank failure released approximately 900,000 gallons of white liquor. www.bangordailynews.com · www.troyrecord.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Inspections in October 2025 and February 2026 identified that large portions of the tank remained thinner than the minimum safe wall thickness. www.bangordailynews.com · www.troyrecord.com
[● 3 SOURCES] An inspection contractor found a chemical tank at a Washington state paper mill unfit for continued service 10 months before its failure. www.bangordailynews.com · www.troyrecord.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com

Sources

Washington chemical tank was called unfit for service before deadly failure, investigators find [www.bangordailynews.com]

about 3 hours ago

Washington chemical tank was called unfit for service before deadly failure, investigators find [www.troyrecord.com]

about 3 hours ago

Washington chemical tank was called unfit for service before deadly failure, investigators find [www.winnipegfreepress.com]

about 2 hours ago