A fire on a Liberia-flagged cargo ship undergoing maintenance in Qingdao, China, has resulted in at least 20 deaths.
Key facts
- •The fire broke out at the Qingdao Beihai shipyard at approximately 11:15 local time.
- •The vessel involved is identified as the Ocean Melody, a Liberia-flagged dry bulk carrier.
- •Of the 42 people on board, 17 were evacuated and five remain hospitalized.
- •The fire was extinguished by early afternoon, roughly three hours after it began.
- •The shipyard is operated by the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation.
At least 20 people have died following a fire on the Ocean Melody, a Liberia-flagged cargo ship docked at a shipyard in Qingdao, China. The blaze erupted at approximately 11:15 local time on Thursday while the vessel was undergoing maintenance and inspection. Of the 42 people reported to be on board, 17 were evacuated, with five individuals hospitalized in stable condition. The fire was extinguished by early afternoon.
By the numbers
Incident Details and Response
The fire occurred at the Qingdao Beihai shipyard, a facility controlled by the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation. Following the incident, Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a call for all-out search and rescue efforts, as well as a swift investigation and the implementation of accountability measures. Premier Li Qiang also emphasized the need for rescue operations and the prevention of secondary disasters.
Vessel Information
The Ocean Melody is a 20-year-old dry bulk carrier measuring 190 meters in length. According to ship-tracking data, the vessel arrived at the Qingdao shipyard on August 31 and had remained there for repairs. The ship is managed by Yuyangkunpeng Shanghai Ship Management, with Huili Shipping Co Ltd listed as its registered owner.
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