The Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, WA experienced a catastrophic explosion on May 28, killing at least two workers and leaving nine missing and presumed dead. The rupture of a 600,000-gallon tank containing caustic "white liquor" spilled chemicals into the Columbia River, marking what Governor Bob Ferguson called possibly Washington's worst modern industrial accident.

The disaster exposed systemic safety issues in the paper industry, where companies face mounting pressure to cut costs while maintaining dangerous operations. Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez noted the accident wasn't surprising given industry cutbacks. The mill employs 550 workers in a community where nearly one in five jobs depends on manufacturing.

The explosion raises questions about the future of the facility and its workers. The plant had previously boasted 100 straight "safe days" despite a history of safety incidents. Local residents fear the accident could lead to closure, potentially eliminating some of the region's best-paying blue-collar jobs that have supported families for generations.