Published on 10/09/2026 – 13:18 GMT+2
At least 20 people were killed and five others remain missing after an international cargo ship docked at a shipyard in Qingdao, eastern China, was engulfed in flames, state media reported Thursday.
The vessel, identified as the Ocean Melody and sailing under a Liberian flag, was undergoing repairs at the Beihai Shipbuilding Co. dock when the blaze erupted around 11:15 a.m. (03:15 GMT). A total of 42 crew members were aboard; 12 were safely evacuated, while the remaining 30 are either dead, missing, or trapped.
State media said the fire was still unfolding and its current status was unclear.
President Xi Jinping issued urgent instructions for rescue operations, and Premier Li Qiang called for a thorough search for survivors, medical care for the injured, and measures to prevent secondary disasters.
Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, stated that the incident would prompt a comprehensive review of safety protocols across the industry.
Xi warned that all regions and relevant departments must learn from the tragedy, conduct thorough investigations, and address fire hazards to prevent future occurrences.
This is a developing story and will be updated as soon as more information becomes available.