The first victim in a devastating implosion at a Washington paper mill has been named, as the fire chief warned residents to brace for an increasing death toll of 10.
Gilbert Bernal, an employee at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility, died in a chemical blast at his workplace on Tuesday morning, according to his family.
A tank collapsed and spilled about 500,000 gallons of white liquor, a solution of sodium sulfide and sodium hydroxide, which can cause severe burns.
The Longview Fire Department said at a press conference on Tuesday evening that the implosion resulted in at least one fatality, with nine others still unaccounted for and multiple injuries.
‘At the moment we are not aware of any rescues that are yet to be made,’ Cowlitz Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein said during the press conference.
Bernal’s daughter, Geovana, said in a social media post on Tuesday that her brother met with a coroner and identified their father.
‘My father was the most remarkable person I knew and I really can’t picture our lives without him,’ Geovana wrote in a separate post.
‘My dad always worked hard to provide for our family. He not only worked full time but went to school while my brother and I were little so he could provide a better life for us.’
A chemical tank imploded on Tuesday morning at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, Washington
Gilbert Bernal was identified by his daughter as the first victim in the chemical blast at the Washington facility
Smoke was seen billowing above the plant on Tuesday morning. Officials said the chemical tank was filled with about 500,000 gallons of white liquor, a solution of sodium sulfide and sodium hydroxide, which can cause severe burns
Geovana added that Bernal was a loving grandfather, and her heart was ‘shattered’ that his time was cut short with her young son.
‘My father was the most selfless person I knew and would help anyone in need and volunteer his time fixing anything. He loved my son so much and would always talk about the things they were going to do together,’ Geovana wrote.
She added in a statement to ABC News that Bernal was set to celebrate his 32nd wedding anniversary with her mother in just a few weeks.
Officials have not confirmed the identities of the victims. Rescue efforts were halted before nightfall due to dangerous working conditions. Goldstein explained that the imploded tank was still leaking about 90,000 gallons of the dangerous substance.
Multiple agencies responded to the recovery efforts on Tuesday, which are set to resume on Wednesday morning.
About 40 firefighters and paramedics had responded, along with a regional hazmat team, Battalion Chief Mike Gorsuch said at the press conference. He described the devastation as a ‘mass casualty scene.’
‘We don’t know until we know, hopefully tomorrow, how we can stabilize the tank. Do we remove the product first? Do we stabilize the tank first or vice versa?’ Goldstein added.
Wednesday’s mission will focus on stabilizing the tank, removing the remaining liquid, and locating those unaccounted for. Officials do not believe there were any survivors left inside overnight.
At least nine people were taken to the hospital with severe injuries, including burns and inhalation damage.
Barnal’s daughter, Geovana, said in a social media post that she was shattered her father would not have more time with her young son
Bernal was a grandfather and a father. His daughter said he worked hard to provide for his family and was a beloved member of the community
Photographs from the scene show the vat partially collapsed from the impact of the implosion, with smoke billowing in all directions.
Among those injured in the implosion were eight employees at the pulp and paper mill and the liquid packaging plant, as well as one firefighter. Officials said on Tuesday night that families of those impacted have all been notified.
The tragedy has left those in Longview in mourning, many of whom have friends and family members who work at the mill.
Community members gathered for a vigil on Tuesday evening after recovery efforts were suspended.
Crystal Moldenhauer, a school board member who has friends who work at the plant, told the Associated Press that Longview residents were scrambling for answers after the implosion.
‘We’re all still waiting for answers,’ she said. ‘There’s families that have been torn apart, and we don’t know why.’
It’s unclear what caused the implosion. Authorities said rescue operations were suspended after nightfall due to dangerous conditions
Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein told reporters on Tuesday that authorities were ‘not aware of any rescues that are yet to be made’
Two parents whose sons work at the plant interjected during Tuesday’s news conference to say they had not been notified of the implosion, the AP reported.
Stephen Burright, another resident of Longview, told The Oregonian that he has five friends who work at the mill, all of whom were accounted for.
Darren Clifford, a former employee at the plant, added, ‘I reached out to one of my closest friends to see because it’s his shift, and I haven’t heard from him. I’ve called him. I’ve called his wife, I haven’t heard anything back. So I’m pretty worried.
‘My other friend that used to work there, he said that three of his operators are currently missing.’
The facility employs about 1,000 people and is a central component of the Longview community.
Goldstein emphasized the plant’s importance, noting that many of the first responders knew people who worked at the facility.
‘It is something that is impactful, and we have support networks to support the workers as well as the emergency responders,’ he said.
Brittny Goodsell, a spokesperson for the Ecology Department, said on Tuesday that the agency was investigating the impacts of the rupture.
The fire department said that they do not believe any survivors remain on site. Continued operations are focusing on stabilizing the tank, removing the remaining liquid and locating those unaccounted for
Residents of Longview gathered on Tuesday night for a vigil to honor those impacted by the tragedy
Governor Bob Ferguson was on scene after the implosion and spoke at Tuesday’s press conference
Residents have stressed the importance of the plant to the Longview community. The facility employs about 1,000 individuals
Governor Bob Ferguson, US Senator Patty Murray and US Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez also attended the conference.
‘I know there’s a lot of questions about how all of this happened and I want to assure you that we will all continue to pressure to get answers to those questions,’ Murray said, adding, ‘This community deserves that.’
It’s still unclear what led to the implosion. Ferguson said in a statement that the Emergency Management Department, the Washington National Guard Civil Support Team, the Department of Ecology, and the National Guard Homeland Response Force were working in coordination with local officials on the incident.
‘On behalf of the people of Washington state, I want the Longview community to know that we stand with you,’ Ferguson said on Tuesday night.
Washington’s State Department of Labor and Industries will be investigating what led to the implosion. The agency noted in a statement that the investigation could take up to six months.
L&I said the facility has two unrelated ongoing inspections. One was related to a valve on a clarifier tank that was not involved in Tuesday’s incident, and the second was regarding a complaint about a sinkhole.
‘We’ve inspected the site three other times in the last five years, citing for various violations that weren’t related to chemical process or storage safety, like fall protection or failure to wear face coverings,’ the agency added.
Dozens of first responders rushed to the scene. There has been one confirmed fatality, at least 10 individuals hospitalized and nine unaccounted for
Longview Fire Department Battalion Chief Matt Amos described the harrowing events at a press conference attended by multiple officials, including Governor Ferguson
Authorities said there is no risk to the public. It is still unclear what led to the implosion, but the State Department of Labor and Industries will be launcing an investigation as officials work to stabilize the site
Authorities have said there is no risk to the public, but have stressed that residents should steer clear of the mill as operations continue.
The Washington Poison Center issued an advisory on Tuesday afternoon that people who were not present at the mill during the implosion were not expected to become ill.
However, residents living close to the facility should be cautious of irritating gases that can cause itchy or burning eyes, scratchy throat, cough, runny nose, and headaches.
Operations are expected to continue on Wednesday morning. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Longview Fire Department for an update.
