Authorities confirm chemical burns killed 11 at Longview's Nippon
Authorities in Cowlitz and Multnomah counties confirm that chemical burns killed the 11 victims who died in the May 26 chemical spill at Longview's Nippon Dynawave paper mill.
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Specifically, Cowlitz County Dana Tucker reported Thursday that the cause of death for all 10 victims in her jurisdiction is alkaline chemical burns.
Robert Wilson, 48, of Clatskanie, also suffered blunt force injuries, and Braydon Finkas, 38, of Cathlamet, also suffered "asphyxia due to aspiration of foreign object."
Tucker declined to provide details on Wilson and Finkas' additional causes of death.
The Multnomah County Medical Examiner's Office reported that the victim who died in its jurisdiction, Dillon Miller, 27, died of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide burns.
The cause of death is consistent with the alkaline burns the Cowlitz County Coroner's Office reported, but the exact terminology varies between offices, Multnomah County Health Department spokesperson Sarah Dean wrote in an email.
The office could not provide Miller's last city of residence.
Wall
The cinder block wall separating the breakroom from the courtyard is seen damaged after the tank ruptured on May 26 at Longview's Nippon. Crews removed the debris from the wall when they recovered the victims.
What are alkaline burns?
Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein previously said the white liquor that spilled after the tank rupture was a mixture of sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide and sodium carbonate.
Alkaline burns are caused by substances with a high pH, such as white liquor, which has a pH of 13.
Alkaline burns tend to be more severe than acidic burns, which are caused by substances with a very low pH, officials from Legacy Oregon Burn Center told The Daily News.
Manner ruled accidental
The manner of death for all 11 victims is listed as an accident, meaning the fatal outcome was unintentional.
The Cowlitz County Coroner's Office performed autopsies on the 10 victims on June 1 and 2.
In a secondary press release, Tucker thanked the organizations and individuals who have assisted in the recovery effort and supported affected families.
"The outpouring of support from our community and neighboring communities has been extraordinary," she wrote.
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