25 Dead After Foreign-Flagged Cargo Ship Catches Fire At China Shipyard

At least 25 people were killed and five others injured after a fire broke out aboard a foreign-flagged cargo ship undergoing repairs at a major shipyard in Qingdao, eastern China, authorities said on Thursday.

The blaze erupted at around 11:15 am while the vessel was undergoing maintenance at China State Shipbuilding Corporation Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co Ltd, according to the city's fire and rescue bureau.

There were 42 people aboard the ship when the fire broke out, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Twelve people were safely evacuated, while five injured workers were taken to hospital and were reported to be in stable condition.

Rescue teams initially searched for 25 missing people. Authorities later said all 25 had been located, but none showed signs of life, bringing the confirmed death toll to 25.

Emergency management officials, firefighters, police and medical teams were quickly deployed to the shipyard as rescue and search operations continued. The Ministry of Emergency Management also sent a working group to the site to assist with the response and investigation.

The incident prompted a rare intervention from China's top leadership. President Xi Jinping directed authorities to intensify rescue efforts, provide support to those affected and quickly establish the cause of the fire. He also called for those responsible to be held accountable.

Xi further ordered local authorities and relevant departments to identify fire hazards, strengthen preventive measures and draw lessons from the incident to prevent similar major accidents.

Premier Li Qiang directed officials to ensure proper treatment of the injured, manage the aftermath and guard against possible secondary disasters. He also called for tighter safety responsibilities and deeper inspections for potential risks across industries.

A photograph released by Xinhua appeared to show the vessel as the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Ocean Melody. Marine tracking data indicated that the ship was moored in Qingdao.

Qingdao Beihai is a major shipbuilding and repair facility operated by China State Shipbuilding Corporation, with facilities covering about 330 hectares along 9 km of coastline. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.