Rescuers find 6 more bodies after US paper mill disaster

US authorities have found six more bodies following a chemical leak at a paper plant in Washington state, an official said on Thursday, with three of a total 11 victims still missing.

A huge tank holding tens of thousands of gallons of a highly caustic substance imploded on Tuesday at the plant in Longview, Washington state, sparking a major search operation.

Rescuers had initially confirmed two people were dead, and ruled out finding survivors as the search turned to recovering victims’ remains.

Brad Hannig, fire chief of Longview Fire Department, told a news conference that six more bodies had been found, bringing the total confirmed dead to eight.

“We continue working with the coroner to notify families,” he said.

Rescuers are working in an “active and hazardous recovery environment” to find the remaining victims’ bodies, Hannig added.