At least 20 people have been killed after a devastating fire broke out aboard a foreign-flagged cargo ship undergoing maintenance at a shipyard in eastern China, authorities said.
The blaze erupted at around 11:15 a.m. local time in the port city of Qingdao, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air and triggering a major emergency response. The vessel was docked for maintenance work when the fire started, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, 42 people were on board the ship at the time of the incident. Rescue teams managed to evacuate 17 individuals, while five of those rescued were taken to hospital and are reported to be in stable condition. Search and recovery operations continued as authorities worked to account for everyone affected by the disaster.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out” search and rescue efforts in the aftermath of the tragedy, while Premier Li Qiang urged emergency responders to rescue any remaining trapped workers and take measures to prevent secondary incidents.
The fire was eventually extinguished more than three hours after it began. Witnesses reported seeing heavy smoke billowing from the vessel as firefighters battled the flames. Images released by Chinese state media identified the ship as the Ocean Melody, a 190-meter Liberia-flagged cargo carrier that had arrived in Qingdao at the end of August.
The deadly incident has drawn national attention and raised fresh concerns about safety standards during ship maintenance operations. Authorities are expected to conduct a full investigation to determine what caused the fire and whether any safety protocols were breached.
As rescue and recovery efforts continue, the tragedy stands as one of the deadliest maritime industrial accidents reported in China this year.
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