A major fire broke out on a ship at the Qingdao Beihai Shipyard in China. About 20 people died in the incident. Five others are missing. The Liberian-flagged cargo ship ‘Ocean Melody’ stopped at the Qingdao Beihai Shipyard for repairs. The ship caught fire there. It is reported that there were 42 crew members on board at the time of the accident.
Chinese President Jinping has ordered the intensification of rescue operations at the scene. He also suggested that causes of fire should be investigated quickly and that assistance should be provided to victims. On the other hand, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has ordered emergency teams to focus on rescuing the crew members trapped on the ship and providing treatment to the injured.
Qingdao Beihai is a major shipyard under the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, which is responsible for the construction and repair of commercial ships. It is spread over an area of 815 acres, spanning 9 kilometers along the coastline.