A cargo ship caught fire in China / At least 20 people have died, while five are missing

At least 20 people have died and another five are missing after the cargo ship “Ocean Melody” caught fire on Thursday while docked and undergoing repairs at a port in the city of Qingdao, China.

According to Xinhua News Agency, 42 people were on board. The fire broke out at around 11:00 a.m. local time, and firefighters managed to extinguish it by 2:30 p.m.

Twelve people were rescued safely, while another five were taken to hospital. They are in stable condition, according to information provided by the authorities.

Search and rescue operations to locate the five missing people are continuing. Chinese President Xi Jinping issued “important instructions” for the emergency mobilization of teams and the deployment of the response.

Qingdao is a major maritime hub on China’s northeastern coast. Authorities are expected to determine the circumstances in which the fire broke out and the exact cause of the tragedy.