Washington. Many people lost their lives when a chemical tank exploded in a paper and pulp mill in America. Officials said that the number of dead is not yet clear. About 10 people were found in critical condition in the mill premises. These people got burnt due to exposure to chemicals. The mill management has said that many employees are missing. Government officials and management confirmed that several people died in the accident that occurred on Tuesday morning.
According to the report of ABC News Channel, this mill (Nippon Dynaway Packaging Company) is not located in the US capital Washington DC, but in Longview, Washington, the northwestern province of the country. Officials have clarified that there is no immediate threat to nearby citizens from this incident. Fire officials said that they received information about the incident at around 7:15 am on Tuesday. It was reported that a tank filled with ‘white liquor’ had burst in the mill.
“The situation is now stable. Rescue efforts are ongoing,” Longview Fire Battalion Chief Mike Gorsuch said at a news conference. Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein, who was with Gorsuch, said it was difficult to estimate the number of deaths. In response to a question, he refused to tell how many people were missing. According to Gorsuch, one firefighter was injured after slipping during a rescue operation.
Rick Graves, a spokesman for Portland Fire and Rescue in Oregon, said those in critical condition were being treated at nearby medical centers. Some people have also been admitted to the burn centre. This unit of Nippon Dynaway Packaging Company is located on the banks of the Columbia River. The company has a pulp and paper mill as well as a liquid packaging plant here. Here raw materials are prepared for making tissue paper, printing paper, cups, plates, cartons and other items. According to the province’s environment department, the mill employs about 1,000 people.
Goldstein said the 80,000 gallon (303,000 liter) capacity tank that exploded was about 60 percent full. This chemical mainly consists of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulphide. It is used to make craft paper by melting wood. Goldstein said it was too early to determine the cause of the blast. About 40 firefighters and paramedics, along with a regional hazmat team, conducted the rescue effort, Gorsuch said.
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