Cargo ship fire at China's Qingdao port kills 25 during repair work
A cargo ship undergoing repairs at Beihai Shipbuilding Co. in China's Qingdao port caught fire on Thursday, September 10, 2026, killing 25 people, according to Chinese state media. Of the 42 people aboard, 12 were safely evacuated and five were injured and hospitalized in stable condition. The fire started around 11 a.m. local time and was extinguished by 2:30 p.m.
Two sources · Thin corroboration
The ship, identified by Xinhua news agency as the Ocean Melody, sails under a Liberian flag according to the vessel-tracking website VesselFinder. It was docked at Beihai Shipbuilding Co. in Qingdao, a major shipping hub on China's northeastern coast, when the fire broke out. Video circulating online showed workers attempting to fight the fire and smoke billowing from the vessel.
Chinese President Xi Jinping issued what Xinhua described as "important instructions" directing authorities to urgently conduct rescues of people still missing on the ship. Premier Li Qiang separately called for "trapped" people to be rescued. Xi also called for ensuring "preventive measures are thoroughly implemented" and said authorities must "resolutely prevent major and catastrophic accidents," according to Xinhua.
Beihai Shipbuilding Co. is part of the state-controlled China State Shipbuilding Corporation, which both AP and CNN identified as the world's largest shipbuilder. The company's operations encompass both new shipbuilding and repair work, according to its website.