Death toll in Washington tank rupture rises to eight as recovery progresses

The confirmed death toll in the chemical tank explosion at a Washington state paper mill rose to eight on Thursday after crews recovered the remains of six workers, officials said. Three more individuals remain missing and are presumed dead. Eight other people were injured, including a firefighter responding to the incident. A tank containing more than 500,000 gallons of a chemical mixture used to break down wood for making paper collapsed Tuesday morning at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co in Longview, a city along the Columbia River. The explosion released a flood of caustic liquid capable of causing severe burns and lung injuries. The tragedy is one of the deadliest US workplace accidents in recent decades. The collapse occurred during a shift change, and the six workers whose remains were recovered had been in an area where they would congregate in the morning as they awaited their assignments for the day, said Matt Amos, Longview fire battalion chief. Among the victims were a grandfather who was always willing to help anyone and a young husband described as selfless and caring, according to friends who organized fundraisers for the victims’ families. The recovery of the victims has been slow and deliberate, complicated by the dangers posed by the remaining chemicals and other industrial hazards, Amos said. Crews were steering clear of a zone closest to the tank, in case of further collapse. …