LONGVIEW, Wash. — Authorities have identified several of the victims killed after a catastrophic chemical tank rupture at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging paper mill in Longview, Washington, in what officials fear could become the deadliest industrial disaster in modern state history.

Among those identified are Gilbert Bernal, Dillon Miller, Clint “CJ” Doran, Jared Ammons, Tyler Covington, and Brad Covington.

Officials said a total of 11 workers are dead or presumed dead following the devastating incident, while seven additional employees remain hospitalized with injuries.

The industrial disaster occurred at approximately 7:15 a.m. Tuesday at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility located on Industrial Way in Longview, a city situated along the Columbia River roughly 45 miles north of Portland, Oregon.

According to Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein, the rupture happened during a shift change in an area containing administrative offices, operational workspaces, and employee break rooms. The powerful blast caused catastrophic structural damage throughout the facility.

“This was a blast,” Goldstein said during a news briefing. “We’ve used the word explosion. We’ve used the word implosion. I’ve also used the word failure. Indeed, there was a rupture, a failure, a blast.”

Officials confirmed that two workers initially recovered from the scene later died from their injuries at local hospitals. Recovery operations continue for nine additional workers who remain unaccounted for within the heavily damaged facility.

Authorities officially transitioned the emergency response from rescue efforts to recovery operations Wednesday morning after structural assessments and drone evaluations determined conditions inside the plant were too dangerous for continued rescue efforts.

The ruptured tank reportedly contained “white liquor,” a highly alkaline chemical mixture commonly used in the paper manufacturing process. Officials estimate approximately 550,000 gallons of the chemical product escaped during the rupture.

Environmental officials confirmed contaminated material entered the Columbia River following the incident. Monitoring teams from the Washington State Department of Ecology, the Environmental Protection Agency, and local agencies continue conducting air and water quality testing around the plant.

Brian Wood, director of support services for Nippon Dynawave Packaging, said company monitoring systems detected multiple spikes of high-pH material leaving the facility and entering nearby drainage systems leading toward the river.

Governor Bob Ferguson said officials have already recovered dead fish, including carp, from nearby waterways as crews work to assess the environmental damage caused by the chemical release.

Despite the contamination concerns, officials stated there are currently no known impacts to Longview’s drinking water supply or surrounding air quality. Residents have still been urged to avoid dikes, drainage areas, and roads near the facility while cleanup and recovery efforts continue.

Matt Amos, a Longview battalion chief assisting at the scene, said recovery operations are moving slowly to protect responders and preserve dignity for the victims.

“The priority is ensuring responder safety while treating every victim with the greatest dignity, care and respect as possible,” Amos said.

Officials confirmed one firefighter injured during the initial response has since been released from the hospital.

Gov. Ferguson described the tragedy as potentially historic in scale.

“We are bracing ourselves for this being the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington history,” Ferguson said.

The investigation into the cause of the chemical tank rupture remains ongoing involving federal, state, and local agencies.