QINGDAO, CHINA: A major fire broke out aboard a foreign flagged cargo ship undergoing repairs at the Beihai Shipbuilding shipyard in Qingdao, eastern China, leaving 25 people dead and five others injured.
The fire broke out at around 11:15 a.m. local time on September 10 while the vessel was undergoing maintenance at the shipyard, according to Chinese state media.
The cargo ship had 42 people on board when the fire started. Twelve people were safely evacuated, while five others were rescued and taken to hospital with injuries. Their condition was reported to be stable.
The fire was brought under control at around 2:30 p.m. after emergency and firefighting teams worked to extinguish the blaze.
25 People Found Dead
- Initial reports said 25 people were missing after the fire. Rescue teams continued searching the vessel and its compartments.
- By around 7:24 p.m. local time, Chinese authorities reported that all 25 missing people had been found, but none had survived. This brought the confirmed death toll to 25.
The final reported figures were:
- 42 people were on board the vessel
- 12 people were safely evacuated
- 5 people were injured and taken to hospital
- 25 people were confirmed dead
The incident was reported at the Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding facility, which is operated by China State Shipbuilding Corporation.
Vessel Identified as Ocean Melody
- The vessel was identified in reports as the Ocean Melody, a foreign flagged cargo ship sailing under the Liberian flag.
- Reports said the ship had been at the Qingdao shipyard for repairs before the fire broke out.
- The vessel was undergoing maintenance when the blaze started. Thick smoke was seen rising from the ship as emergency crews responded to the incident.
Xi Jinping Orders Investigation
- Chinese President Xi Jinping called for urgent search and rescue efforts following the incident.
- He also directed authorities to determine the cause of the fire as quickly as possible and to hold those responsible accountable if any violations are found.
- Chinese Premier Li Qiang also called for efforts to rescue trapped people, treat the injured and prevent further accidents.
- Authorities have also been instructed to strengthen inspections for fire and other safety risks at industrial facilities.
Cause of Fire Under Investigation
- The exact cause of the fire has not yet been officially established.
- Authorities are expected to investigate how the fire started while the vessel was undergoing repair work and whether any safety violations contributed to the tragedy.
- The incident has raised fresh concerns about safety procedures during ship repair and maintenance operations.
- Further details are expected as the investigation continues.
