25 Killed as Fire Breaks Out on Cargo Ship at Chinese Port
BEIJING:At least 25 people were killed after a fire broke out aboard a cargo ship at a port in China, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
CCTV reported that the fire erupted at around 11:15 a.m. local time while repair work was being carried out on a ship at a shipyard in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao.
The fire broke out on a foreign-flagged cargo vessel anchored at the port, killing 25 people.
According to the broadcaster, 42 people were aboard the ship when the fire broke out. Seventeen people were safely evacuated, while five others who were taken to hospital were reported to be in stable condition.
Images released by Chinese state media identified the vessel as **Ocean Melody**, a 190-metre-long Liberia-flagged cargo ship. The vessel had arrived in Qingdao on August 31.
The fire was brought under control after slightly more than three hours, according to the report. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Speaking to AFP, a witness said thick smoke was rising from the vessel but that he had not heard any explosion.
Chinese President Xi Jinping had earlier directed authorities to launch a large-scale search and rescue operation following the incident.
