LONGVIEW, Wash. — All 11 victims killed during the catastrophic chemical tank implosion at a paper mill in Washington have been identified, and the bodies of those who were unaccounted for in the days that followed have been recovered.
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Cleanup efforts continued into the weekend at the Nippon Dynawave mill in Longview, Washington, but the recovery operation concluded Saturday when the remains of the final missing person was found.
The catastrophic blast happened late Thursday morning, when a tank containing nearly a million gallons of white liquor, a corrosive chemical solution used in the paper-making process, imploded.
Multiple workers were injured, and several others were unaccounted for as emergency crews confronted the extensive damage throughout the facility.
Nine people were killed on-site, and two people were transported to medical facilities in Oregon and nearby in Longview, according to officials.
At least three people killed in the tank implosion were under the age of 30, according to Cowlitz County coroner Dana Tucker. They have been identified as follows:
- Gilbert Bernal, 52, of Kelso, Washington
- Tyler Covington, 29, of Castle Rock, Washington
- Brad Covington, 27, of Castle Rock, Washington
- Robert Wilson, 48, of Clatskanie, Oregon
- Dale Miller, 54, of Portland, Oregon
- Jared Ammons, 35, of Longview, Washington
- Braydon Finkas, 38, of Cathlamet, Washington
- Clinton Duran, 26, of Kelso, Washington
- John Forsberg, 51, of Longview, Washington
- Norman Barlow, 58, of Vancouver, Washington
Dillon Miller also died in the incident, but his identification process was not managed managed by the same coroner’s office.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has assisted with this response,” Tucker said.
Cleanup efforts described as ‘intense’
Debris filled portions of the mill, including office areas, while concerns about the structural stability prevented responders from immediately accessing some of the sections of the plant.
Officials described the recovery operation as labor-intensive and methodical, requiring responders to navigate hazardous conditions throughout the facility.
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“This work has been intense, it’s been methodical and incredibly difficult for everyone that’s been involved,” said Deputy Chief Kurt Stich of Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue.
The operation drew support from a wide range of local, state and federal partners, including the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard.
“It was equally important that recovery efforts were conducted in a way that preserve the integrity of the scene and ensures that investigators have the ability to fully determine what happened and get these families and community the answers they deserve,” said Scott Tift, national president of the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers.
Officials have not released a cause of the implosion and have not said whether the tank showed signs of failure before the incident. They also have not provided a timeline for when investigators might release preliminary findings.
The investigation is expected to continue for weeks or months as authorities examine the damaged equipment and review conditions leading up to the blast.
Environmental monitoring is also ongoing. Federal and state officials said dead fish continue to be found in ditches and canal networks near the facility, with reports increasing in recent days. The Environmental Protection Agency is encouraging the public to report dead fish through its hotline, 1-800-22-BIRDS, to help crews identify affected areas.
Officials said impacts to other wildlife appear limited so far. In addition to fish, responders have reported finding a small number of dead tadpoles and other small wildlife.
With all victims now accounted for, the focus is shifting from recovery to understanding what happened inside the mill and whether any warning signs preceded the disaster.
The tragedy is likely to be remembered as one of the deadliest industrial accidents in modern Washington state history.
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