China says still investigating cause of deadly cargo ship fire

China's state media reported on Friday that investigators were still determining the cause of a fire that killed 25 people aboard a foreign-flagged cargo ship in Qingdao port on Thursday. The bulk carrier, named Ocean Melody, had 42 people on board when the blaze erupted in the morning. Seventeen survivors were evacuated, five of whom sustained injuries. The ship was moored in the eastern port when the fire broke out around 11:15am and was extinguished by 2:30pm.

Firefighter Hao Xiang, who suffered smoke damage to his face, told CCTV that the hold of the ship was extremely hot. As hot steam escaped, it melted away the accumulated oil grime on the vessel, making it slippery. Another unnamed firefighter recorded the temperature of the blaze, which he said was around 85 degrees Celsius (185 degrees Fahrenheit). The area was engulfed in flames, with flames rising from the bottom, accompanied by a distinct diesel smell.

Experts from various parts of China gathered in Qingdao to examine the scene. State media showed images of rescue workers at the port, along with fire engines and trucks lined up along the area. A CCTV video posted on social media displayed a fire and rescue worker guiding a reporter inside the ship, pointing out damaged equipment and white ash.

A witness from a nearby residential compound told AFP that he had observed thick smoke coming from the ship but did not hear an explosion. Despite the ship's identity not being officially confirmed, videos and pictures indicate that it bears the name Ocean Melody, a 190-metre (623-foot) long bulk carrier sailing under the Liberian flag. MarineTraffic, a vessel-tracking website, located the ship as moored in Qingdao.