A fire aboard a foreign-flagged cargo vessel undergoing maintenance at a shipyard in Qingdao, China, has killed 25 people and injured five others.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:15am local time on 10 September aboard the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Ocean Melody at Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding in Shandong province.
Fire Breaks Out During Maintenance
The vessel was undergoing repair and inspection work when the fire broke out. Chinese state media reported that 42 people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident.
Twelve people were evacuated safely, while five others sustained injuries and were transported to hospital. The remaining 25 people were subsequently confirmed dead.
Fire and rescue teams, police and other emergency services responded to the incident. The fire was brought under control at approximately 2:30pm, after which search and rescue operations continued aboard the vessel.
The Ocean Melody had been at the Qingdao shipyard since 31 August for maintenance work.
Chinese authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, with the Ministry of Emergency Management dispatching a working group to support the emergency response and investigation.
The circumstances surrounding the fire, including the specific maintenance activities being undertaken when it started, have not yet been publicly established. No confirmed cause of the fire has been reported.
