Disasters & Incidents
Qingdao ship fire cause still unknown after 25 deaths
Chinese investigators had not determined the cause of a fire that killed 25 people on a foreign-flagged cargo ship moored in Qingdao, state broadcaster CCTV said Friday.
CCTV said the bulk carrier had 42 people on board when the fire broke out at about 11:15 a.m. Thursday. Seventeen people were evacuated, including five injured people, and 25 died. State media said the fire was extinguished by 2:30 p.m.
State media said experts from across China had gathered in Qingdao to analyse the scene. Firefighters described extreme heat inside the ship's hold. One firefighter told CCTV that an infrared thermometer showed about 85C in the area and that there was a distinct smell of diesel.
The ship has not been officially identified. Videos and pictures showed the name Ocean Melody on the vessel. MarineTraffic lists Ocean Melody as a 190-metre bulk carrier sailing under the Liberian flag and located as moored in Qingdao.
A witness from a neighbouring residential compound told AFP he saw thick smoke from the ship but did not hear an explosion. State news agency Xinhua earlier said President Xi Jinping called for urgent search and rescue operations and stressed the need to hold those responsible to account.
Update
CCTV said on Friday that investigators had not determined the exact cause of the fire.
State media said experts from across China had gathered in Qingdao to analyse the scene.
Firefighters described extreme heat and difficult conditions inside the ship's hold.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 07:14:20 UTC.
Update
Chinese state media said the death toll from the Qingdao cargo ship fire rose to 25.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 12:16:31 UTC.
Update
CCTV said open flames were extinguished at around 2:30 p.m. local time.
CCTV said 17 people had been evacuated, including five who were injured.
A witness told AFP he saw thick smoke from the ship but did not hear an explosion.
Xinhua reported President Xi Jinping called for lessons to be drawn and fire hazards investigated and rectified.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 11:13:36 UTC.
Update
CCTV said 42 people were on board the cargo ship.
CCTV said 12 people were safely evacuated.
CCTV said five injured people were hospitalised and were in stable condition.
CCTV said five people were still missing.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 10:56:45 UTC.
Update
State media reported that 20 people were killed in the cargo ship fire.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 10:45:57 UTC.
Update
Xinhua shared an image identifying the ship as the Ocean Melody.
MarineTraffic lists the Ocean Melody as a 190-metre bulk carrier sailing under the Liberian flag and moored in Qingdao.
State media said some people were feared missing or trapped on board.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 10:42:11 UTC.
Update
State media said the fire broke out at about 11:15 a.m. local time on September 10.
It was not clear whether the fire had been extinguished.
Premier Li Qiang urged the rescue of trapped people, medical treatment for the injured and steps to prevent secondary disasters.
Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding operates as a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 09:38:51 UTC.
Update
Xinhua identified the location as Qingdao in Shandong province.
The ship was in port for maintenance when the fire occurred, according to Xinhua.
President Xi Jinping called for urgent searches for missing people and for those responsible to be held to account, according to Xinhua.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 09:17:02 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The exact cause of the fire remains undetermined.
The ship has not been officially identified in the supplied material.
Source
AFP news report published on .