A massive fire has broken out on a cargo ship docked for repairs at a Chinese port, claiming the lives of at least 20 people. Five others remain missing. Chinese state media reported the incident on Thursday.
According to reports, the vessel was undergoing repairs at the Beihai Shipbuilding Company in Qingdao, a major maritime port on China’s northeastern coast.
A photo released by China’s state news agency, Xinhua, identified the ship as the ‘Ocean Melody.’ Vessel tracking website VesselFinder reported that the ship sails under the Liberian flag.
The Xinhua report stated that there were 42 people on board in total. Of these, 12 were safely evacuated, and five injured individuals were admitted to the hospital; their condition is reported to be stable.
The fire broke out around 11:00 AM local time on Thursday and was brought under control by 2:30 PM. Videos circulating online showed crew members attempting to extinguish the blaze.
Chinese President Xi Jinping issued “important instructions” to launch an urgent rescue operation for the missing individuals. Premier Li Qiang also called for the rescue of those trapped on the ship.
Xi Jinping further ordered the proper implementation of all necessary measures to prevent accidents and called for strict action to avert major or catastrophic incidents.
Beihai Shipbuilding operates under the state-controlled China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), the world’s largest shipbuilder. According to its website, the company’s primary operations include shipbuilding and ship repair.
