A fire aboard the cargo ship Ocean Melody killed at least 25 people while the vessel was docked for repairs at the port of Qingdao, China, on Thursday. Five others were injured and are in stable condition at a local hospital.
The blaze erupted around 11:15 a.m. local time at Beihai Shipbuilding Co. in Qingdao, a major shipping hub. A total of 42 individuals were on board the Liberian-flagged vessel at the time of the incident. Twelve were safely rescued, according to Chinese state media reports. The fire was extinguished around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, just over three hours after it began.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Chinese authorities have not yet released details about what may have sparked the blaze.
President Xi Jinping called for intensified rescue efforts and support for those affected by the fire. Premier Li Qiang emphasized the need to rescue trapped individuals and implement preventive measures to avoid similar catastrophic accidents. He also stressed the importance of thoroughly implementing preventative measures to resolutely prevent major and catastrophic accidents.
Beihai Shipbuilding is a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, the world's largest shipbuilder, which primarily engages in shipbuilding and ship repair. Qingdao, located in China's Shandong province, is one of the country's busiest ports and a significant center for shipbuilding, shipping, and international trade, handling millions of containers annually.