On May 31, Nippon Paper Industries published an update of the dramatic consequences of a tank collapse (white liquor, containing pulping chemicals, i.e. sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide) which occurred last May 26 at the facility of its U.S. subsidiary, Nippon Dynawave Packaging (“NDP”), located in Longview, Washington State, U.S.A. This mill is specialized in pulp and paper production.
« We express our deepest condolences to those who lost their lives in this incident and offer our heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families. We would also like to express our warmest sympathies to all those affected by the accident. We would like to once again express our sincere apologies for the immense concern and inconvenience this has caused to the local community, our business partners, and all related parties. In addition, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who worked tirelessly to ensure safety at the scene and search for the missing.
The status of the damage caused by the accident as of 3:30 p.m. local time on May 30 is as follows:
- Status of the Accident
At approximately 7:00 a.m. local time on May 26, a chemical tank at the facility collapsed. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation by the authorities. - Human Casualties
Eleven dead. The identities of all individuals have been verified.
Eight injured - Equipment Damage
We have confirmed damage to one chemical tank. - Other
The impact of this accident on the environment, production, shipments, and our financial performance is still currently being assessed.
In accordance with local regulations and an Incident Command System (ICS)(*), NDP are working closely with local police and fire authorities to ensure safety at the site. »
V. L.
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(*) ICS: An emergency response system standardized under the framework of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), encompassing police, fire departments, and related organizations.