Longview crews closer to reaching disaster epicenter, tests show no public health risks

Emergency response crews at the Longview paper mill disaster have pushed hundreds of feet deeper into areas previously unreachable, accelerating the recovery in a hazardous environment after Tuesday’s tank failure. The search has confirmed at least nine deaths, with two workers still missing and presumed dead. The tank’s implosion released an estimated 550,000 to 570,000 gallons of a corrosive slurry known as white liquor, complicating access to the site. Responders are moving cautiously, documenting findings as they remove debris and contaminated liquid with vacuum trucks and long hose lines.