Notice Regarding the Incident at U.S. Subsidiary Nippon Dynawave Packaging (Fifth Update)

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.

 

We would like to provide an update on the tank collapse that occurred at the facility of our U.S. subsidiary, Nippon Dynawave Packaging (“NDP”), located in Washington State, U.S.A.

 

We express our deepest condolences to those who lost their lives in this incident and offer our heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families.  We would also like to express our sympathy to all those affected by the incident.  We recognize the depth of impact this incident has caused to the local community, our business partners, and all related parties.

 

The status as of 3:30 p.m. local time on June 5 (7:30 a.m. Japan time on June 6) is as follows (the sections that have been added or revised since the Fourth Update are in bold):

 

1. Status of the Incident

At approximately 7:00 a.m. local time on May 26, a chemical tank at the facility collapsed.  The cause of the incident is currently under investigation by the authorities.

 

2. Human Casualties

-      eleven (11) dead

-      eight (8) reported to the hospital injured

 

3. Equipment Damage

A chemical tank used to produce paper pulp collapsed, causing a white liquor leak and damage to the surrounding area. No damage has been confirmed to major equipment such as paper pulp production machinery, boilers, paper machine and extruders.

 

4. Other

Due to this incident, production has been suspended.  The impact of this incident on the environment and our financial performance is still being assessed.

In accordance with local regulations and an Incident Command System (ICS) (*), NDP is working closely with local police and fire authorities to ensure safety at the site.

 

*     ICS: An emergency response system standardized under the framework of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), encompassing police, fire departments, and related organizations.

 

End