At least 20 people were killed and five are missing after a cargo ship caught fire while docked in a Chinese port, reports BritPanorama.
The ship was docked for repairs at Beihai Shipbuilding Co. in the port of Qingdao, a prominent shipping hub on China’s northeastern coast.
Identified by the Xinhua news agency as the Ocean Melody, the vessel operates under a Liberian flag, according to tracking website VesselFinder.
Of the 42 people on board, 12 were safely evacuated, while five sustained injuries and were taken to a hospital, where they remain in stable condition.
The fire began around 11 a.m. local time on Thursday and was extinguished by 2:30 p.m.
China’s President Xi Jinping issued “important instructions” to urgently conduct rescues for those missing, with Premier Li Qiang emphasizing the need to rescue any remaining trapped individuals.
