At least 20 people have died and five remain missing after a cargo ship caught fire while undergoing repairs at a shipyard in Qingdao, eastern China.
The vessel, identified by Chinese state media as the Liberian-flagged Ocean Melody, was berthed at Beihai Shipbuilding Co when the blaze broke out on Thursday morning.
Forty-two people were aboard the ship. Twelve were evacuated safely, while five injured people were taken to hospital and were reported to be in a stable condition.
The fire began at about 11am local time and was brought under control by approximately 2.30pm, according to Xinhua news agency. Footage circulating online showed workers attempting to tackle the flames on the vessel.
President Xi Jinping ordered an urgent rescue operation for those still unaccounted for and called for measures to prevent further major accidents. Premier Li Qiang also directed rescuers to search for people who might still be trapped on board.
The cause of the fire has not been established. Beihai Shipbuilding is part of the state-controlled China State Shipbuilding Corporation, which operates shipbuilding and repair facilities in the country.
