A devastating fire ripped through a cargo ship undergoing repairs at the bustling port of Qingdao, China, claiming the lives of at least 25 individuals on board and injuring five others. The blaze erupted Thursday morning aboard the Liberian-flagged vessel, identified as the Ocean Melody, while it was docked for maintenance by Beihai Shipbuilding Co., a subsidiary of the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation. Of the 42 people present on the ship when the fire broke out, only 12 were safely rescued, with the injured receiving hospital treatment and reported to be in stable condition. The fire was eventually extinguished after more than three hours, leaving plumes of smoke visible from afar. The exact cause of the inferno remains under investigation by Chinese authorities, prompting President Xi Jinping to call for intensified rescue efforts, comprehensive support for those affected, and a stringent review of preventive measures to avert future catastrophic accidents in the critical shipbuilding and shipping hub.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News
