At least 20 dead, 5 missing after cargo ship catches fire in China port, state media says
BEIJING — A cargo ship docked for repairs in a Chinese port caught fire, killing at least 20 people and leaving five others missing, Chinese state media reported Thursday. The ship was being repaired in the Beihai Shipbuilding Co. at the port of Qingdao, a major shipping hub on the northeastern Chinese coast. A photo released by Xinhua news agency identified the ship as the Ocean Melody, which…
A cargo ship docked for repairs in a Chinese port caught fire, resulting in at least 20 fatalities and five people reported missing, according to Chinese state media on Thursday. The vessel, operated under a Liberian flag and identified as the Ocean Melody, was undergoing maintenance at the Beihai Shipbuilding Co. in the port of Qingdao, a significant shipping center along China's northeastern coastline.
The ship initially housed 42 individuals. Fortunately, 12 of these crew members were successfully evacuated during the incident. Twelve others sustained injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital, where they are currently reported to be in stable condition. The fire ignited around 11 a.m. local time on Thursday and was swiftly brought under control by 2:30 p.m. the same day.
Eyewitness footage captured on video depicted crew members on board attempting to contain the blaze. In response to the tragedy, President Xi Jinping issued urgent directives for the rescue efforts of the missing individuals on the ship. Premier Li Qiang also directed rescue teams to prioritize the recovery of those trapped within the vessel. Additionally, Xi emphasized the need for implementing thorough preventive measures to avert such incidents in the future.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
