Fire aboard cargo ship undergoing repairs at busy Chinese port leaves 25 people dead, five more injured
A fire broke out on the cargo ship Ocean Melody while it was undergoing repairs at the port of Qingdao, a major Chinese shipping hub, on Thursday. The blaze, which started around 11:15 a.m. local time, resulted in the deaths of at least 25 people on board. Of the 42 individuals on the vessel at the time, 12 were safely rescued, and five others sustained injuries and were hospitalized. The fire was extinguished by approximately 2:30 p.m. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, and Chinese authorities have not yet provided an explanation. President Xi Jinping has called for intensified support for those affected and emphasized the need for preventive measures to avoid future accidents.