A chemical tank containing nearly a million gallons of a corrosive mixture known as white liquor imploded at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co paper mill in Longview, Washington. The rupture caused multiple critical injuries and released a highly destructive chemical solution.
Authorities have reported that two people have died following the incident. An additional nine workers remain missing, bringing the presumed death toll to 11. Nine other people were reported injured.
Search crews were set to resume their efforts on Wednesday, although officials stated there is no hope of finding any more survivors. Before bodies can be recovered, crews must first stabilize the tank to prevent further collapse and the leaking of more caustic liquid.