QINGDAO: At least 20 people have died after a fire broke out on a foreign-flagged cargo ship docked at a port in China. The blaze occurred at the Beihai Shipbuilding Company Limited facility in the eastern maritime hub of Qingdao, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
The fire began at approximately 11:15 a.m. on Thursday. Reports indicate that there were 42 crew members and workers on board at the time of the incident. While 17 people were rescued safely and five others were recovered with injuries, 20 individuals were confirmed dead at the scene. Five people remain missing, and search and rescue operations are ongoing. The fire was brought under control by around 2:30 p.m.
The vessel, identified as the Liberian-flagged cargo ship Ocean Melody, is 190 meters long and was undergoing maintenance at the shipyard. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for an immediate search and rescue operation and demanded that those responsible for the incident be held strictly accountable. He further directed relevant departments to conduct a thorough investigation into fire safety risks to prevent similar tragedies.
Nearby residents reported seeing thick smoke rising from the ship but stated they did not hear any explosions. Qingdao serves as a major international maritime hub, connecting to more than 700 ports across over 180 countries and regions worldwide.
