In brief
A cargo vessel named Ocean Melody caught fire in Qingdao’s busy port, killing 25 of its 42 crew. The ship, under maintenance, was tackled by emergency services after a three‑hour blaze. Eighty‑one crew were rescued, while five were taken to hospital in stable condition. Chinese leaders urged comprehensive search and preventive measures, noting the incident follows a recent shipyard explosion that claimed a casualty. Maritime safety concerns intensify in China’s key maritime hubs.
Twenty‑five crew members of the Liberia‑flagged cargo ship Ocean Melody were killed when the vessel caught fire during maintenance at Qingdao port on 10 September 2026.
Of the 42 people on board, 17 were evacuated, and five residents were transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition, according to CCTV reports.
The blaze erupted at about 11:15 local time (03:15 GMT) and was extinguished after approximately three hours.
The cause of the fire remains unclear; eyewitnesses described thick smoke but no explosion.
Chinese leaders have called for an all‑out search and rescue effort; Premier Li Qiang urged prevention of secondary disasters, while President Xi Jinping emphasized comprehensive rescue operations.
The incident follows a recent shipyard explosion in Fujian that killed a rescue worker and injured twelve, highlighting ongoing concerns over maritime safety in China’s busiest ports.
