Authorities in Washington state are responding to an “implosion” at a packaging plant early on Tuesday morning that left multiple people with chemical burns.
The Longview fire department said in a statement there was a hazardous materials incident at Nippon Dynawave Packaging that occurred when a vat of “chemical treatment” imploded. According to the state, the plant has a kraft pulp and paper mill and liquid packaging facility, and employs roughly 1,000 employees.
There is “no immediate threat to the public”, the fire department said, but a number of people on site were injured and transported to the hospital. The severity of their injuries is not yet known.
The department said crews were continuing to work with Nippon employees “to mitigate the product and container involved”.
This is a developing story …
