At least 20 dead, five missing as cargo ship catches fire at Qingdao port

In Qingdao, a port city in eastern China, a fire broke out on a foreign-flagged cargo ship moored at the port on Thursday, resulting in at least 20 deaths and five people reported missing. The vessel, a bulk carrier named Ocean Melody, was docked at the Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, for a scheduled maintenance visit. With a crew of 42, 17 passengers were evacuated, including five who sustained injuries, while another five remain unaccounted for.

Firefighters swiftly responded to the blaze, extinguishing the open flames around 2:30 pm local time. State broadcaster CCTV reported that by the end of the fire, 20 people were found dead with no signs of life. President Xi Jinping called for urgent search and rescue operations, emphasizing the need to hold those responsible accountable.