A fire aboard a foreign-flagged cargo vessel undergoing repairs at Qingdao Beihai Shipyard in eastern China has killed 25 people, Chinese state media reported.
The fire broke out at around 11:15 a.m. local time on September 10 while the vessel was undergoing repair and inspection work. The blaze was extinguished by early afternoon.
The vessel, identified as the Ocean Melody, is a 20-year-old Liberia-flagged dry bulk carrier. It arrived at the Qingdao shipyard on August 31 for repairs. There were 42 people aboard when the fire occurred. Twelve were evacuated safely, while five others were injured and taken to hospital.
The shipyard is operated by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and is one of China’s major ship repair and shipbuilding facilities.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered intensified rescue efforts, a prompt investigation into the cause of the fire and accountability for those responsible. Authorities have also been instructed to strengthen fire-risk inspections and safety measures to prevent similar major accidents.
The cause of the fire has not yet been disclosed. The incident is expected to draw renewed attention to fire prevention and emergency-response procedures during ship repair and maintenance operations.