A fire that broke out on a cargo ship docked in the Chinese port of Qingdao has resulted in at least 25 fatalities, state media reported Thursday.
The vessel, identified as the Ocean Melody and sailing under a Liberian flag, was undergoing repairs at the Beihai Shipbuilding Company when the fire ignited around 11:15 a.m. local time. The bulk carrier had 42 individuals on board at the time of the incident.
Emergency services responded and worked to extinguish the blaze, which was put out by 2:30 p.m. Seventeen people were rescued, including five who were transported to a hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.
Chinese President Xi Jinping issued urgent instructions for rescue operations for those missing on the ship and called for enhanced preventive measures to avoid major accidents. Premier Li Qiang also urged efforts to rescue any trapped individuals.
The Beihai Shipbuilding Company is part of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, described as the world's largest shipbuilder. The Ocean Melody had arrived at the shipyard on August 31.
This incident follows a series of industrial accidents in China where safety regulations have been noted as lax. In August, an explosion and fire at a shipyard in Fujian province killed one rescue worker and injured 12 others. In May, a blast at a fireworks factory in central China claimed 37 lives, and a fire in a shoe factory in Fujian in July resulted in at least 28 deaths.
A witness reported seeing smoke emanating from the ship but did not hear an explosion or smell anything unusual.
