Nippon Dynawave Industrial Incident
The Washington Dept. of Ecology, EPA, Cowlitz Fire and Rescue, and Longview Fire and Rescue are responding to an incident at Nippon Dynawave.
You can visit Ecology's Flickr album for photos of the response work.
Summary information
Longview
Map of the Nippon Dynawave Industrial site.
Status updates
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 -- 7:30 p.m.
Numerous local, regional, state, and federal agencies continue working together alongside facility personnel and contractors on the Nippon Dynawave Industrial Incident.
Environmental monitoring
Water discharging to the Columbia River remains at safe pH levels.
The pH levels measured in the ditch network today remain in normal range and do not threaten public health. pH monitoring will continue in the ditch network tomorrow.
Stationary and mobile air monitoring continue to show no harmful gases related to white liquor detected.
Site cleanup status
Cleanup operations continue at the facility. Vacuum trucks are removing waste and liquid will remain on-site for the foreseeable future.
All material is being disposed of on-site in the wastewater treatment plant.
Water safety
Longview's drinking water remains safe. Unified Command has heard concerns from residents asking if their drinking water is safe after learning about dead fish in the local ditch network. The City of Longview does not draw water from these ditches for drinking water. In addition, most of the fish died at the time of the incident, and they are now surfacing; this doesn’t mean fish are continuing to die.
Even though pH levels continue to be in the ditch’s normal range, we are still asking residents avoid affected sloughs, dikes, and drainage ditches until further notice. Residents should also keep pets away from these areas.
Anyone who has come into contact with water in those areas should rinse thoroughly with clean water. Pet owners should also rinse their animals if they have been exposed.
Anyone experiencing unusual symptoms or health concerns should seek appropriate medical attention.
Fish and wildlife
Crews collected 183 deceased fish today from the ditch systems adjacent to the incident response area and in west Longview, bringing the total number of fish recovered during the response to 2,633. Collection efforts continue focusing on accessible areas of the ditch system where fish have accumulated in the waterways.
Deceased fish are still visible within the ditch system at locations across the city, and crews continue to collect primarily non-native species such as common carp, catfish, perch, and bass. The public can continue to report sightings of dead or distressed fish or wildlife by calling 1-800-22-BIRDS.
The Columbia River remains open for fishing and recreation.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 -- 7:00 p.m.
Numerous local, regional, state, and federal agencies continue working together alongside facility personnel and contractors on the Nippon Dynawave industrial incident.
Clarifications
The Longview Fire Department issued a statement today clarifying the number of individuals transported to the hospital directly from the Nippon site.
The Unified Command also has a clarification on the volume that was in the tank at the time of the incident. The tank was a million-gallon tank with a 900,000-gallon capacity, and was approximately two-thirds full of white liquor at the time of the failure.
Environmental monitoring
Water discharging to the Columbia River remains at safe pH levels, which means there have been no discharges since the immediate aftermath of the incident.
The pH levels measured in the ditch network today remain in normal range and continue to not threaten public health. pH monitoring will continue in the ditch network tomorrow.
Stationary and mobile air monitoring continue to show no harmful gases related to white liquor detected at any level.
Site cleanup status
Cleanup operations continue at the facility. Vacuum trucks with pumps that are removing waste and liquid will remain on-site for the foreseeable future.
All material is being disposed of on-site in the wastewater treatment plant.
Water safety
Longview's drinking water remains safe.
Even though pH levels have returned to the ditch’s normal range based on today’s results; we are still asking residents to keep avoiding affected sloughs, dikes, and drainage ditches until further notice. Residents should also keep pets away from these areas.
Anyone who has come into contact with water in those areas should rinse thoroughly with clean water. Pet owners should also rinse their animals if they have been exposed.
Anyone experiencing unusual symptoms or health concerns should seek appropriate medical attention.
Fish and wildlife
Crews collected 337 deceased fish today from accessible areas of the ditch systems. Yesterday’s count has been corrected to 177. These systems are adjacent to the incident response area and are located in west Longview, bringing the total number of fish recovered during the response to 2,450. Collection efforts have focused on accessible areas of the ditch system, including locations where fish have accumulated in the waterways.
Many of the fish being recovered likely died earlier within the ditch system and are now moving through the waterways likely because of flushing efforts. Species we collected include common carp, catfish, sunfish, bass, peamouth chub, bridgelip sucker, northern pikeminnow, sculpin, and redside shiner. Crews also collected two hatchery-raised salmon during the response. We are keeping both specimens for further analysis.
Response crews are planning additional recovery efforts in the coming days to access difficult-to-reach areas, including portions of the ditch system that require specialized equipment. The number of reported fish is likely to grow as those efforts continue. The public can continue to report sightings of dead or distressed fish or wildlife by calling 1-800-22-BIRDS.
The Columbia River remains open for fishing and recreation.
Monday, June 1, 2026 -- 8:30 p.m.
Numerous local, regional, state, and federal agencies continue working together alongside facility personnel and contractors.
Update from Labor & Industries
L&I issued a news release earlier today and has also created an incident response webpage to host the latest updates and information.
Environmental monitoring
Water being discharged to the Columbia River remains at safe pH levels, confirming that no further contamination has reached the Columbia since the immediate aftermath of the incident.
All discharge from the facility to the dike system stopped as of this morning. As a result, emergency flushing operations to respond to this incident have also stopped for now, but normal seasonal flushing will continue. Most of the white liquor did not leave the facility site, and cleanup efforts inside the facility continue.
The pH levels measured in the ditch network today remain in normal range and continue to be of no threat to public health. Water pH monitoring in the ditch network will continue at least through tomorrow to confirm that flushing was successful.
On Tuesday, June 2, crews plan to fly a large drone throughout the day to make a visual inspection of all the ditches.
Stationary and mobile air monitoring continues to show zero detections of harmful gases at any level. A map showing air and pH water monitoring locations is now available.
Status of the site cleanup
Cleanup operations continue at the facility. Vacuum trucks with pumps that are removing waste and liquid will remain on-site for the foreseeable future.
All material is being processed on-site in the wastewater treatment plant.
Water safety
Longview's drinking water remains safe.
Even though pH levels have returned to a normal range based on today’s results, we are still asking residents to continue avoiding affected sloughs, dikes, and drainage ditches until final confirmation is complete. Please do not attempt to fish in the area. Residents should also keep pets away from these areas.
As of June 1, 250 signs posted in English, Spanish, and Chuukese have now been posted throughout affected locations. Anyone who has come into contact with water in those areas should rinse thoroughly with clean water. Pet owners should also rinse their animals if they have been exposed.
Anyone experiencing unusual symptoms or health concerns should seek appropriate medical attention.
Fish and wildlife
Today crews collected 290 deceased fish from ditch systems in locations adjacent to the incident response area and in west Longview, bringing the total to 2,226. Collection efforts today focused on accessible portions of the ditch system, and crews installed fish collection grates near culverts under Coal Creek Road, where many of the recovered fish have accumulated during flushing operations.
Many of the fish being recovered likely died earlier within the ditch system and moved through the waterways as flushing efforts progressed. Species collected include common carp, catfish, sunfish, bass, peamouth chub, bridgelip sucker, and redside shiner. Crews have also collected two hatchery-raised salmon during the response. Both specimens are being retained for further analysis.
The number of reported fish is likely to grow as collection efforts continue in areas that require specialized access. The public can continue to report sightings of dead or distressed fish or wildlife by calling 1-800-22-BIRDS.
The Columbia River remains open for fishing and recreation. Testing today indicates pH levels from the ditch system flowing to the Columbia River remain in normal range, and there have been no confirmed impacts to fish or wildlife in the Columbia River.
Sunday, May 31, 2026 -- 7:30 p.m.
Numerous local, regional, state, and federal agencies continue working together alongside facility personnel and contractors.
Update on hospitalizations
Of the nine personnel injured in the incident and transported to the hospital, two are deceased, four have been treated and released (including one firefighter), and three remain in care.
Environmental monitoring
Water being discharged to the Columbia River remains at safe pH levels, confirming that no contamination has reached the Columbia. Most of the White Liquor did not leave the facility site, and on-site treatment efforts were successful.
The pH levels measured in the ditch network today are in normal range and continue to be of no threat to public health. Water pH monitoring continues in the ditch network as crews pump and flush water throughout the system, which helps dilute pH levels.
Stationary and mobile air monitoring continues to show zero detections of harmful gases at any level. A map showing air and pH water monitoring locations is now available.
Nippon Dynawave Industrial Incident map. Community air and water quality monitoring. [Click map to enlarge]
Site cleanup
Cleanup operations are still in progress at the facility. Vacuum trucks with pumps that are removing waste and liquid will remain on-site for the foreseeable future.
Water safety
Longview's drinking water remains safe.
Even though pH levels have returned to a normal range based on today’s results, we are still asking residents to continue avoiding affected sloughs, dikes, and drainage ditches until final confirmation is complete. Residents should also keep pets away from these areas.
More than 200 signs posted in English, Spanish, and Chuukese have now been posted throughout affected locations. Anyone who has come into contact with water in those areas should rinse thoroughly with clean water. Pet owners should also rinse their animals if they have been exposed.
Anyone experiencing unusual symptoms or health concerns should seek appropriate medical attention.
Fish and wildlife
To date, nearly 2,000 deceased fish have been collected from the ditch systems in locations adjacent to the incident response area and in west Longview. The majority of fish collected today were recovered from Coal Creek Slough just outside the main pump station at the western end of the ditch system. The pH levels within the slough outside the pump station remain at safe levels.
Many of these fish may have died within the ditch system and are being expelled as part of flushing efforts over the past several days. Species collected include common carp, catfish, sunfish, bass, peamouth chub, bridgelip sucker, and redside shiner. Crews also collected a single hatchery-raised coho salmon.
The number of reported fish is likely to grow following additional flushing of the system, and fish may be visible in areas not previously observed. The public can continue to report sightings of dead or distressed fish or wildlife by calling 1-800-22-BIRDS.
The Columbia River remains open for fishing and recreation. Testing today indicated that pH levels from the ditch system flowing to the Columbia River remain in normal range, and there have been no confirmed impacts to fish or wildlife in the Columbia River.
New incident photos are available at Nippon Dynawave Industrial Incident | Flickr.
Saturday, May 30, 2026 -- 8:00 p.m.
Numerous local, regional, state, and federal agencies continue working together alongside facility personnel and contractors.
Victim recovery
Today, entry crews recovered the ninth and final individual from the scene. Families of all 11 victims of this tragedy have been notified by the coroner's office. More information is available on the Cowlitz County Coroner’s website.
Governor Ferguson has directed that Washington State and United States flags at all state agency facilities be lowered to half-staff in their memory on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
Environmental monitoring
Water pH monitoring continues as crews pump and flush water throughout the drainage network. Levels continue to be of no threat to public health in the highest priority areas, especially above the wellfield. All water being discharged to the Columbia has been successfully diluted to safe pH levels. Some elevated pH levels continue in the slough, but this area is getting smaller. Subsidiary sloughs and ditches are being closely monitored for any migration of contamination.
Stationary and roving air monitoring continues to show zero detections of harmful gases at any level.
Water safety
Longview's drinking water remains safe.
Because elevated pH levels remain in some areas, we are asking residents to continue avoiding affected sloughs, dikes, and drainage ditches. Residents should also keep pets away from these areas.
Warning signs in English and Spanish have been posted throughout affected locations. Anyone who has come into contact with water in those areas should rinse thoroughly with clean water. Pet owners should also rinse their animals if they have been exposed.
Anyone experiencing unusual symptoms or health concerns should seek appropriate medical attention.
Fish and wildlife
Observed fish and wildlife impacts remain limited to ditch systems adjacent to the incident response area. To date, response crews have collected 200 deceased fish. Species collected include common carp, channel catfish, brown bullhead, pumpkinseed sunfish, bluegill, and redside shiners.
The Columbia River remains open for fishing and recreation. Sampling continues to show that impacted water entering the river from adjacent ditches has been diluted below levels of concern. No fish or wildlife impacts have been observed in the Columbia River mainstem.
Friday, May 29, 2026 -- 8:30 p.m.
Local, regional, state, and federal agencies continue working together alongside facility personnel and contractors.
Victim recovery
Today, entry crews began using vacuum trucks and heavy machinery to make progress into an area that had previously been inaccessible due to physical obstacles and chemical contamination.
Entry crews recovered a seventh individual from the scene. Families of the seven recovered individuals have been notified by the coroner's office.
Responder safety continues to be a top priority while ensuring every individual is treated with the greatest dignity, care, and respect possible.
Environmental monitoring
Cleanup operations remain active and affected waterways may contain elevated pH levels, contaminated water or other hazards associated with the incident. Ongoing monitoring indicates no significant threat to public health.
Stationary and roving air monitoring has shown zero detections of harmful gases at any level.
Pumping operations
Public Works crews and the Diking District continue to pump and flush water through the drainage network. These efforts are designed to move and dilute any remaining product within the system to ensure that the water source remains a safe source of drinking water.
All water being discharged to the Columbia River has been successfully diluted to safe pH levels. Crews will continue pumping, flushing, and monitoring until conditions have stabilized throughout the system.
Water safety
Because elevated pH levels remain in some areas, we are asking residents to continue avoiding all sloughs, dikes, and drainage ditches. Residents should also keep pets away from these areas.
Warning signs have been posted throughout affected locations. Anyone who has come into contact with water in those areas should rinse thoroughly with clean water. Pet owners should also rinse their animals if they have been exposed.
Anyone experiencing unusual symptoms or health concerns should seek appropriate medical attention.
Longview's drinking water remains safe.
Odor and water color
Some residents may continue to notice a rotten egg odor in parts of the community. That odor is caused by hydrogen sulfide gas released as the product becomes diluted during the flushing process. The odor is a byproduct of the dilution process and an indication that our flushing efforts are working.
Contaminated water may appear dark in color.
Wildlife
Water testing shows the Columbia River is currently safe for fishing and recreational activities.
Multiple dead fish within the ditch system were reported shortly after Tuesday’s incident. Twenty-three dead fish have been collected to date for analysis. Species include catfish, carp and bluegill.
There have been zero reports of impacted fish or other marine wildlife in the Columbia River.
Members of the public should not attempt to rescue or recover impacted fish or wildlife and should keep children and pets away. Any suspected impacts should be reported to the established hotline 1-800-22-BIRDS which is being monitored by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 -- 7 p.m.
Six of the nine individuals who were unaccounted for after the incident have been recovered and transported to the Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office which is in the process of notifying the families. Recovery operations will be paused overnight for safety reasons and resume Friday morning. The cause of this incident is still under investigation.
With oversight from the EPA, NOAA, and the Department of Ecology, the Consolidated Diking Improvement District #1 (CDID1) continues to flush water from both the Cowlitz River and fire hydrants in the Highlands neighborhood into the Longview ditches and operate two pumping stations which flow into the Columbia River in order to move contaminated water out of the ditches and away from the city’s aquifer.
Water testing is ongoing to ensure water being discharged into the river remains at levels safe for human contact. We ask the public to keep themselves and their animals away from the Longview ditches while testing and mitigation operations are underway.
The Columbia River is currently safe for fishing and recreational activities to continue as normal. Any impacted water from the ditches entering the river has been diluted to below harmful levels. Crews are monitoring continuously and will ask the United States Coast Guard to implement safety measures if needed. No wildlife impacts have been observed in the Columbia River. Any observations or concerns can be reported by calling 1-800-22-BIRDS and leaving a detailed message with date, time, and location.
EPA continues monitoring air at the Nippon facility and in the community around the clock and has not detected any level of harmful gases. White liquor has a strong, noticeable odor similar to sulphur or rotten eggs, but an odor on its own does not pose a health hazard. The public will be notified if any hazardous air conditions are detected.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 -- 12:45 p.m.
The City of Longview is confirming that the City’s drinking water remains safe and there is no immediate threat to public health following Tuesday’s incident at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging. Longview’s drinking water is sourced from protected underground aquifers located approximately 200 feet below the surface.
The City’s water treatment plant continuously monitors water quality 24 hours a day, and is engineered to automatically shut down before contaminated water can enter the public water system. City crews are working aggressively to divert contaminants away from City wellheads and critical water infrastructure.
Additionally, the City is clarifying that hydrant flushing is being conducted intentionally to increase water movement through stormwater systems, dikes, and drainage ditches. This process helps flood the ditch system to dilute and move any residual white liquor away from sensitive areas.
As white liquor becomes diluted with water, it can create an odor through a process known as off-gassing. While the smell may be noticeable in some locations, it is not considered toxic at the levels being detected in the community. The EPA continues monitoring air quality throughout Longview, and there have been no detections of abnormal or dangerous air quality conditions related to the incident.
We are also aware of reports about deceased fish within some local slough areas. Environmental experts indicate some fish impacts would be expected due to elevated pH levels associated with the released material.
We continue to work closely with local, state, and federal partners to monitor conditions and protect public health and infrastructure.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 -- 5:30 p.m.
Recovery efforts began today at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company following the rupture of an industrial tank and release of white liquor yesterday, May 26.
Recovery efforts were delayed due to safety concerns of the structural integrity of the damaged tank. The initial estimate of product remaining in the tank was 90,000 gallons. Additional inspection revealed the remaining product amount was significantly smaller volume, allowing emergency responders to develop a plan to move forward to remove it.
An individual who was transported from the scene Tuesday has died as a result of their injuries, bringing the list of confirmed fatalities to two. Known injuries include:
- 9 individuals who remain unrecovered
- 7 injured employees
- 1 injured firefighter
As individuals are recovered, they will undergo decontamination before being transported to the Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office for identification and family notification. The coroner’s office will release a list of names and provide a contact when all individuals have been recovered and family notifications are complete.
Environmental monitoring and mitigation continue at the site. Representatives from the Washington State Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are assisting with overseeing operations related to potential environmental impacts.
Currently there are no negative health impacts to air quality or the City of Longview’s drinking water system. The public is asked to keep away from ditches and dikes in the city while water testing is underway.
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 -- 10:00 a.m.
This morning Ecology was informed by the Washington State Emergency Management division that white liquor was released from a storage tank at Nippon Dynawave in Longview. The exact quantity was unknown at the time.
The spill has impacted the storm drain system, which connects to the county dike system, which pumps water into the Columbia River. The dike system closed their pumps to the river. At this time, there is no indication that the spill affected the Columbia River.
The tank suffered a complete failure, and was 90% full at the time of the discharge. Operations have been suspended at the incident site until the remainder of the product can be safely removed due to the instability of the tank.
Local emergency agencies are still engaged in ensuring safety of personnel on scene and securing the site for additional response resources. Ecology has resources standing by.