Qingdao shipyard fire kills at least 25, leaves five missing
The Liberian-flagged Ocean Melody caught fire while undergoing repairs at a Qingdao shipyard. The cause has not been established.
At least 25 people were killed and five remain missing after a fire aboard a bulk carrier undergoing repairs at a shipyard in Qingdao, northeastern China, Chinese state media reported.
The 190-metre Ocean Melody, which sails under a Liberian flag, had 42 people aboard when it caught fire at about 11.15am local time on Thursday, according to CCTV. The fire was reported extinguished at about 2.30pm.
The vessel was being repaired at Beihai Shipbuilding Co, part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, one of the world’s largest shipbuilders. The cause of the fire remains unclear, and the reported casualty figures may change as search-and-rescue and identification efforts continue.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for search-and-rescue operations and an investigation into possible responsibility, Xinhua reported. He also urged authorities to draw lessons from the incident and address fire hazards.
No finding of responsibility has been reported. The circumstances of those aboard and whether others were injured were not immediately clear.
