China Cargo Ship Fire Death Toll Rises to 25
A fire that broke out aboard a foreign-flagged cargo ship at a port in eastern China has claimed the lives of 25 people, according to Chinese state media.
The incident occurred on Thursday at a shipyard in Qingdao, a major maritime centre in Shandong province. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that 42 people were on board the vessel when the fire started.
17 People Evacuated
Rescue teams managed to evacuate 17 people from the ship, including five who suffered injuries.
Authorities initially reported several people missing. However, by Thursday evening, rescuers had located all 25 missing individuals, with none found alive, CCTV reported.
Firefighters succeeded in putting out the visible flames at around 2:30pm local time, according to state media reports.
The fire reportedly began at approximately 11:15am while the vessel was at the port for maintenance. Officials have not yet announced what caused the blaze.
Heavy Smoke Seen From Nearby Area
A resident of a neighbouring residential complex told AFP that he noticed thick smoke coming from the vessel but did not hear an explosion.
Footage released by Chinese state media showed emergency personnel working across the ship while firefighters and rescue workers entered the vessel. Several fire engines and ambulances were also seen at the port.
The vessel involved was identified as the Ocean Melody, a 190-metre bulk carrier operating under the Liberian flag, according to vessel-tracking information.
President Xi Orders Investigation
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for those responsible to be held accountable and urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
Xi also instructed relevant departments to examine fire risks and take measures to prevent similar accidents in the future.
The incident comes amid a series of serious industrial accidents reported in China over the past year, raising renewed concerns about workplace and fire safety.
In August, a shipyard accident in Fujian province reportedly killed one fire and rescue worker and injured 12 others.
Other recent incidents have included a fireworks factory explosion in central China that killed 37 people in May and a shoe factory fire in Fujian province in July that left at least 28 people dead.
Qingdao is one of China’s major international shipping hubs and has maritime connections with hundreds of ports worldwide. The shipyard where the incident occurred is operated by a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation.
