Home / Disasters and Accidents / Deadly Fire Engulfs Cargo Ship in Qingdao Shipyard
Deadly Fire Engulfs Cargo Ship in Qingdao Shipyard
10 Sep
Summary
- A fire at Qingdao Beihai shipyard killed at least 20 people.
- The blaze occurred on a foreign cargo vessel undergoing repairs.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered an investigation and accountability.
A catastrophic fire erupted on Thursday at approximately 11:15 a.m. at the Qingdao Beihai shipyard, claiming the lives of at least 20 individuals. The incident occurred aboard a foreign cargo vessel, the Ocean Melody, which was undergoing repair and inspection works at the state-owned facility.
Of the 42 people on board when the fire broke out, 12 were successfully evacuated. Tragically, five others sustained injuries and required hospitalization. The blaze was brought under control and extinguished by early afternoon on the same day.
The vessel, a Liberia-flagged dry bulk carrier managed by Yuyangkunpeng Shanghai Shp Mgm, had arrived at the Qingdao shipyard on August 31 and remained docked. The shipyard itself is a significant facility, controlled by the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), a major global shipbuilder.
Following the incident, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for intensified search and rescue efforts. He also called for a swift investigation into the cause of the fire and the implementation of accountability measures.
