Key facts
- At least 20 people were killed in a fire aboard a foreign cargo vessel at a shipyard in Qingdao, China.
- Five people remain missing following the incident.
- The fire occurred during repair and inspection works on the Liberia-flagged dry bulk carrier Ocean Melody.
- The Qingdao Beihai shipyard is controlled by the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
At least 20 people have died in a fire that erupted on a foreign cargo vessel undergoing repairs at a state-owned shipyard in Qingdao, China, on Thursday, according to state media. Five individuals are still unaccounted for.
The blaze started around 11:15 a.m. local time at the Qingdao Beihai shipyard, which is controlled by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), one of the world's largest shipbuilders. The fire occurred during repair and inspection activities on the vessel, identified as the Ocean Melody, a 20-year-old Liberia-flagged dry bulk carrier. Of the 42 people on board at the time, 12 were safely evacuated, and five were hospitalized with injuries. The fire was brought under control by early afternoon.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for enhanced search and rescue operations, a thorough investigation into the incident, and the implementation of accountability measures.