(NewsNation) — Officials in Longview, Washington, say there is no hope of rescue for nine people still missing after a massive chemical tank imploded at a paper mill Tuesday morning, leaving one worker dead.

Nine more people, including a firefighter, were injured in the blast at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility.

Authorities say the tank held nearly 1 million gallons of a highly corrosive liquid used in paper production known as “white liquor,” with about 90,000 gallons still inside the damaged and unstable structure.

Deaths confirmed after major chemical implosion in Washington

Officials say recovery efforts will not resume until Wednesday morning and will begin only after crews work to stabilize the tank, with operations limited to daylight hours due to safety risks.

Injured workers suffered chemical burns and inhalation injuries and were decontaminated before being taken to hospitals, while officials say there is no threat to the public.

The cause of the implosion remains under investigation.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.