At least 25 people were killed and five remained missing after a fire broke out on a cargo ship undergoing repairs at a shipyard in the northeastern Chinese port city of Qingdao, state media reported Thursday.
State broadcaster CCTV said the vessel had 42 people on board when the fire started at around 11:15 a.m. local time. The flames were extinguished by approximately 2:30 p.m. (0630 UTC).
The ship was identified by Xinhua as the 190-metre (623-foot) bulk carrier Ocean Melody, which sails under a Liberian flag.
Cause remains unclear
Chinese President Xi Jinping issued “important instructions” ordering a search-and-rescue operation and an investigation into those responsible for the incident, Xinhua reported.
Xi said all regions and relevant departments must draw profound lessons from the incident, thoroughly investigate and eliminate potential fire hazards.
The cause of the fire remained unclear.
The vessel was undergoing repairs at Qingdao’s Beihai Shipbuilding Co, part of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, one of the world’s largest shipbuilders.
