A fire aboard a cargo ship undergoing repairs at a major Chinese port has resulted in at least 25 fatalities, according to Chinese state media reports on Thursday.
The incident occurred at the Beihai Shipbuilding Co. facility in the port of Qingdao, a significant shipping hub located on China's northeastern coast. The vessel has been identified as the Ocean Melody, which operates under a Liberian flag.
Of the 42 individuals on board the ship at the time, 12 were successfully evacuated. Five others sustained injuries and were transported to a hospital, where their conditions are reported as stable. The fire reportedly began around 11 a.m. local time on Thursday and was extinguished by 2:30 p.m.
Visuals circulating online showed workers on the ship attempting to combat the blaze. Following the incident, Chinese President Xi Jinping issued directives for an urgent rescue operation for those missing and called for the thorough implementation of preventive measures to avert major accidents. Premier Li Qiang also emphasized the need to rescue any individuals trapped aboard.
Beihai Shipbuilding is a subsidiary of the state-controlled China State Shipbuilding Corporation, recognized as the world's largest shipbuilder. The company's primary operations encompass both shipbuilding and ship repair services.