One killed, nine presumed dead after 3.4m-litre chemical tank implodes in Washington

Authorities say there is no hope of finding any survivors after a chemical tank imploded in the US.

The incident happened at a pulp and paper mill in Washington state at 7.15am local time on Tuesday.

Within hours one was confirmed dead, whilst another nine, were missing.

But authorities have now given up hope of rescuing them.

Before any bodies can be recovered, crews on Wednesday must first stabilize the tank, which was at risk of collapsing further and leaking more of the caustic liquid.

Gilbert Bernal, an electrician at the plant, is believed to be the first confirmed death.

His friend Todd Cornwell, told the Associated Press: "He was always there willing to help in whatever needed to be done.

"When the local church school started flooding, he was one of the people there."

At least nine other people, including a responding firefighter, were also injured in the spill at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview.

A number of those injured suffered burns or inhalation injuries, authorities said, with the severity of the injuries ranging from minor to critical.

The tank contained a chemical known as "white liquor", a corrosive substance used to break down wood to make kraft paper.

Officials are yet to determine the cause of the implosion, but said there is no immediate threat to the public.

In a statement, the Longview Fire Department said the tank "remains unstable", which was creating "hazardous conditions for emergency personnel".

It added: "Responders are continuing efforts to structurally reinforce and stabilise the site before additional recovery operations can safely proceed."

Patty Murray, a US senator from Washington, called the incident an "absolute tragedy" and said that "my heart is with everyone who lost a loved one today - as well as the injured workers".

Meanwhile, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said state ecology workers had been deployed to the scene.

He said: "I'm deeply saddened to hear that there have been fatalities. My thoughts are with the workers and their families, and with the first responders."

The Nippon Dynawave Packaging mill employs close to 1,000 people and makes material for tissues, printing paper, cups, plates, cartons and other goods.

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It comes three days after 40,000 people were ordered to evacuate amid the threat of a chemical tank explosion at an aerospace plant in southern California.

The damaged storage tank at the facility in Garden Grove - which authorities said has now been rendered safe - had been venting methyl methacrylate, a hazardous and highly flammable chemical used to make plastic parts, into the air after it overheated.

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