September 12, 2026 – Twenty-five people died after a fire broke out aboard the foreign-flagged cargo vessel Ocean Melody while it was undergoing inspection and repair at Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding in Shandong Province.
Xinhua reported that the fire began at about 11:15 a.m. on September 10. Forty-two people were aboard: 12 evacuated safely, five were hospitalized with stable vital signs, and all 25 initially reported missing were later found without signs of life.
Reuters and The Associated Press corroborated the core casualty and rescue figures. Reuters identified the vessel as a 20-year-old Liberia-flagged cargo ship and reported that the shipyard is operated by China State Shipbuilding Corporation.
Investigation ordered; cause not established
A separate Xinhua report said the Ministry of Emergency Management sent a team to the site and that authorities were instructed to determine the cause and pursue responsibility according to law. The public reports reviewed for this article do not establish the cause, the employment or contractor status of those aboard, or negligence by any organization or person.
The fire was extinguished by about 2:30 p.m., according to Xinhua. Further reporting should focus on the investigation record, worker identification and support, applicable repair-yard safety procedures, and whether findings and corrective actions are made public.
Sources
- Xinhua: final casualty update, September 10, 2026
- Xinhua: investigation and emergency-response direction
- Reuters: Ocean Melody and shipyard details
- Associated Press: casualty and rescue report