At least 20 individuals have lost their lives, and five others are unaccounted for following a fire that erupted on a cargo ship moored at a Chinese port. Reports from state media indicate that there were 42 crew members on board the vessel, which was undergoing maintenance at a prominent shipyard.

According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, the incident involved a foreign cargo ship belonging to Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., located in Qingdao, Shandong Province. The ship, identified by Xinhua as the Ocean Melody and registered under the Liberian flag, was docked for repairs when the fire broke out.

The vessel was at the Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding yard, a key facility in one of China’s major shipping centers on the northeastern coast. Beihai Shipbuilding is part of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, which holds the title of the largest shipbuilder in the world, focusing on both ship construction and repair services.

In response to the tragedy, Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged for enhanced search and rescue operations, as well as a comprehensive investigation into the fire’s origins. He emphasized the necessity for all regions and relevant departments to learn from this incident to address and rectify potential fire risks.

The fire reportedly ignited around 11 AM local time on Thursday and was brought under control by 2:30 PM. Premier Li Qiang has also called for efforts to locate any individuals who may be trapped and has stressed the importance of providing medical assistance to the injured while taking precautions to prevent further incidents.