25 people killed in ship fire in China's Qingdao
A fire broke out on a foreign-flagged bulk carrier in the port of the Chinese city of Qingdao in Shandong Province
25 people died in a ship fire in China's Qingdao
A fire broke out on a foreign-flagged cargo ship in the port of the Chinese city of Qingdao in Shandong Province. 25 people died and five others were injured, the Global Times reports.
The vessel was undergoing maintenance at the shipyard of Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co., which is part of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation. The fire started at 11:15 local time (8:15 Tashkent time). Emergency services arrived at the scene. The fire was extinguished by 14:30 local time (11:30 Tashkent time).
There were 42 people on board at the time of the fire. 12 people were successfully evacuated. Five injured individuals were taken to the hospital, and their condition is assessed as stable.
According to AFP, the vessel in question is a 190-meter bulk carrier flying the Liberian flag. Eyewitnesses told the French agency that they saw smoke but heard no explosions and did not notice any specific odors.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for "strictly holding those responsible accountable" and ordered measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future, Xinhua news agency reports.