25 people die in cargo ship fire in China
In the Chinese port city of Qingdao, 25 people died as a result of a fire on the Liberia-flagged cargo vessel Ocean Melody. There were 42 people aboard the bulk carrier at the time of the fire, Dawn reports, citing Chinese state media.
According to state television channel CCTV, 17 people were evacuated from the vessel, five of whom were injured. In the evening, rescuers found all 25 people who had previously been considered missing, with no signs of life.
Fire during repairs
According to Xinhua, the fire broke out at around 11:15 on Thursday, when the vessel entered the port for maintenance. The cause of the fire was not specified. The open flames were extinguished at approximately 14:30.
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A witness from a residential complex nearby told AFP that they saw thick smoke above the vessel but did not hear an explosion or smell anything. Xinhua footage shows dozens of rescuers on the decks of the Ocean Melody, as well as fire trucks and ambulances on the pier.
Authorities' response
Ocean Melody is a 190-meter bulk carrier that, according to MarineTraffic, was moored in Qingdao. The Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding shipyard operates as a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Xinhua reported, stressed the need to strictly hold accountable those found responsible for the incident. He also called on regions and relevant agencies to learn lessons from the event, inspect and eliminate all types of fire hazards.
