Tank Failure Led to Tragedy at Paper Mill | Lubbock News

A deadly chemical tank explosion at a Washington paper mill killed 11 workers last year — and a new federal report reveals the disaster was preventable. A contractor had flagged the tank as dangerously thin months before it ruptured, warning that large sections were below safe thickness. Despite multiple inspections showing ongoing risks, the company ignored internal checks or repairs. The failure released 900,000 gallons of caustic white liquor, causing fatal burns and injuries, including to a firefighter. Compounding the issue: the tank overflowed because a key digestor was offline for repairs, allowing pressure to build until catastrophe struck. The company now faces 35 environmental violations, and the investigation continues. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/bb61915d994af0ee