A chemical tank has imploded and ruptured at a Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in the US state of Washington, resulting in multiple deaths and critical injuries, authorities say.
Emergency responders remained at the site on Tuesday in the city of Longview in Cowlitz County, about 72km north of Portland, Oregon, the Longview Fire Department said in a joint written statement with Nippon and the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Department.
Multiple patients who suffered from chemical burns and other injuries were transported to nearby hospitals. Authorities said the implosion posed "no immediate threat to the surrounding community."
The statement said that officials "can confirm fatalities related to the incident" along with "multiple critical injuries," but did not provide figures.
At least nine workers and one firefighter were taken to hospitals from the site, said Scott Goldstein, the Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue chief who was among those who responded.
The number of fatalities was "undetermined," he added at a news conference.
PeaceHealth St John Medical Center in Longview told ABC News it had seen nine patients related to the incident, including one who had died. Six of the patients were in fair condition, and two other patients had been transferred, the hospital told ABC.
The joint statement said that a tank containing "white liquor," a chemical solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in production of paper pulp, ruptured about 7.15am (local time) on Tuesday.
Goldstein told media the 80,000-gallon tank was approximately 60% full.
In southern California, meanwhile, authorities have been monitoring an overheating industrial tank containing highly flammable methyl methacrylate.
The worst-case possibility of an explosion was ruled out on Monday at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove after a crack relieved some of the mounting pressure, officials said.
Orange County Fire Authority spokesman Greg Barta said in an update on Tuesday morning that the temperature in the tank was holding steady and that crews were working to ensure that people evacuated could get home as soon as possible.
