A fire on a Liberia-flagged cargo ship docked at a shipyard in Qingdao left 25 people dead. Of the 42 crew on board, 17 were evacuated and five remain in hospital in stable condition. The blaze broke out during maintenance work and was extinguished after more than three hours.
What happened during the Qingdao shipyard fire?
The incident occurred on a vessel identified as the Ocean Melody, a 190-metre carrier that had arrived in the port on 31 August. The fire started at approximately 11:15 local time while the ship was undergoing maintenance. State media reported that firefighters brought the blaze under control just over three hours later.
How many people were affected and what is their condition?
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV stated that 25 of the 42 people on board died. Seventeen crew members were rescued, and five of them were taken to hospital. All five are reported to be in stable condition. No further details on the remaining evacuees have been released.
What is known about the cause of the fire?
Officials have not identified the cause. An eyewitness quoted by AFP described thick smoke but no explosion. The Ocean Melody flies the Liberian flag and was at a shipyard in Qingdao, one of the world’s busiest ports, at the time of the incident.
What was the official response from Chinese leaders?
President Xi Jinping called for “all-out” search and rescue efforts. Premier Li Qiang emphasised the need to prevent secondary disasters. Both statements were reported by state media shortly after the fire was extinguished.
How does this incident compare with recent events?
The Qingdao fire follows a shipyard explosion in Fujian province nearly a month earlier that killed one rescue worker and injured twelve others. No direct link between the two events has been established.
Frequently asked questions
Which ship was involved in the Qingdao fire?
The vessel is the Ocean Melody, a 190-metre Liberia-flagged cargo ship that arrived in Qingdao on 31 August.
How long did the fire last?
The blaze started around 11:15 local time and was extinguished just over three hours later.
Are any crew members still missing?
All 42 people on board have been accounted for: 25 died, 17 were evacuated, and five of the evacuees are in hospital.
Key takeaways
- Twenty-five crew members died in a fire on the Ocean Melody at a Qingdao shipyard.
- The vessel was undergoing maintenance when the blaze began at 11:15 local time.
- Seventeen people were evacuated; five remain in stable condition in hospital.
- President Xi ordered full search and rescue efforts; Premier Li called for measures against secondary disasters.
- The cause remains unknown and no explosion was reported by witnesses.