11 confirmed dead in Washington state chemical accident

11 confirmed dead in Washington state chemical accident

The ruptured tank contained about 3.4 million litres of 'white liquor'

The death toll from a chemical tank rupture in the U.S. state of Washington climbed to 11 ‌as crews recovered the bodies of all nine missing people, authorities said on Saturday.

Two fatalities had been ​confirmed after the tank ​containing "white liquor" — a chemical solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used ​in making paper pulp — imploded ⁠at a ⁠Nippon Dynawave Packaging ‌facility on Tuesday.

The search for the missing carried on through the week as recovery crews worked through debris ⁠in indoor areas and flew drones over the perimeter of the site, said Cowlitz ‌2 Fire & Rescue's deputy chief, Kurt Stitch.

The ruptured tank contained about 3.4 million litres of white liquor, and ​tests confirmed that contamination entered the nearby Columbia River, ⁠officials have said, although no "negative health impacts" ⁠had been detected on air quality or ⁠the ⁠city of ​Longview's drinking water.

Nippon Paper Industries, Japan's second-biggest paper ​manufacturer by ⁠sales, acquired the Longview plant from Seattle-based timber company Weyerhaeuser for $225 million US and established the wholly owned subsidiary Nippon Dynawave Packaging in 2016.