Fatal Fire Erupts on Board Liberian Vessel ‘Ocean Melody’ During Shipyard Repairs in China, At Least 25 Dead
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
At least 25 people have lost their lives after a foreign-flagged cargo ship caught fire while docked for repairs at the Qingdao port in eastern China, according to Chinese state media reportedly said on Thursday.
Of the 42 individuals present on board at the time of the incident, 12 were safely evacuated by emergency teams. Five others were hospitalized with burn and smoke injuries and remain in stable condition, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The deadly blaze broke out at approximately 11.15 am (03.15 GMT) while the vessel was undergoing maintenance at the Beihai Shipbuilding Company yard. Located along China’s northeastern coast, Qingdao serves as a critical maritime and trade gateway for the region.
Rescue operations and casualty details
The precise cause of the inferno remains under investigation, and official channels have not reportedly confirmed if firefighters have completely extinguished the blaze.
- Casualties and rescues: 25 dead, 12 evacuated safely, and five hospitalised in stable condition out of 42 on board.
- Incident location: Docked at Beihai Shipbuilding Company inside the Qingdao port complex in eastern China.
- Vessel identification: Ocean Melody, operating under a Liberian registration flag.
- Timing of outbreak: Fire started around 11.15 am (03.15 GMT) during repair operations.
- Current status: Cause remains unknown, with state media silent on whether the fire is fully put out.
Top leaders call for accountability
Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly instructed rescue teams to search urgently for missing personnel and directed authorities to strictly hold responsible parties to account.
"All regions and relevant departments must draw profound lessons from this incident, thoroughly investigate and rectify all types of fire hazards," Xi reportedly said in a statement carried by Xinhua.
Premier Li Qiang also urged local emergency services to locate any trapped workers, deliver full medical support to the injured, and implement measures to strictly prevent secondary disasters at the shipyard facility.
