25 dead after fire on board foreign-flagged cargo ship in China’s Qingdao
South China Morning Post • • general
Key Points:
- A fire on a foreign-flagged cargo ship in Qingdao, China, killed 25 people while the vessel was undergoing repairs at a state-owned shipyard.
- The fire started around 11:15 a.m. and was extinguished by 2:30 p.m., with 12 people evacuated safely and five hospitalized.
- President Xi Jinping ordered intensified search and rescue efforts, a swift investigation into the fire’s cause, and emphasized victim support and accident prevention.
- The ship involved is identified as the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Ocean Melody, currently moored in Qingdao.
- Authorities have been urged to learn from the incident, enhance safety measures, and prevent major accidents to protect lives and property.
