Beijing, Sep 11:
At least 20 people were killed after a fire broke out aboard a foreign-flagged cargo ship undergoing repairs at a shipyard in the eastern Chinese port city of Qingdao, state media reported.
The blaze began at around 11.15 am at the state-owned Qingdao Beihai shipyard in Shandong province, according to state broadcaster CCTV. State-run CGTN reported that 20 people had died.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered authorities to step up search and rescue operations and called for a swift investigation into the cause of the fire. Premier Li Qiang also directed emergency teams to focus on rescuing trapped personnel, treating the injured and preventing secondary accidents.
The Ministry of Emergency Management sent a working group to the site to assist with rescue and investigation efforts, while Shandong authorities mobilised resources for the operation.
Qingdao Beihai is operated by China State Shipbuilding Corporation and specialises in commercial shipbuilding, ship repair and offshore engineering. A photograph released by Xinhua suggested that the vessel involved was the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Ocean Melody.