CHINA

Cargo Ship Fire at Qingdao Shipyard Leaves 25 Dead

By Tang Ailin, Bao Zhiming and Yi Tianyi

Published: Sep. 11, 2026 11:43 a.m. GMT+8

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A fire broke out on a foreign cargo ship undergoing maintenance at China State Shipbuilding Corp.'s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. at around 11:15 a.m. on Sept. 10, 2026. Photo: CCTV News

A fire aboard a foreign cargo ship undergoing repairs at a shipyard in eastern China killed 25 people on Thursday, marking one of the deadliest industrial accidents in the country’s maritime sector in recent years.

The blaze broke out at roughly 11:15 a.m. local time during maintenance work at a facility owned by China State Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd.’s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., according to state media.

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Fire aboard foreign cargo ship at Qingdao Beihai shipyard killed 25 workers; 12 evacuated and 5 hospitalized from 42 on board.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered search efforts and investigation; suspected cause is oil tank leak during maintenance.
Vessel: Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Ocean Melody (built 2006), undergoing work in Taishan floating dry dock.

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Who’s Who

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What Happened When

July 3, 2026：: The Ocean Melody loads 46,000 tons of iron ore dust in Monrovia, Liberia.

August 26, 2026：: The ship arrives at Taicang, China.

August 28, 2026：: After unloading, the ship heads to the Qingdao Beihai shipyard.

August 31, 2026：: The ship docks at the shipyard.

September 11, 2026：: Fire aboard the foreign cargo ship Ocean Melody breaks out at approximately 11:15 a.m. local time during maintenance at CSSC’s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding facility.

September 11, 2026：: Of the 42 people on board, 12 are safely evacuated and 5 are hospitalized in stable condition; the remaining 25 are initially declared missing.

September 11, 2026, 2:30 p.m.：: Rescue workers extinguish the fire.

September 11, 2026, evening：: All 25 missing people are found dead, bringing the total death toll to 25.

September 11, 2026：: Chinese President Xi Jinping orders immediate search-and-rescue efforts, proper aftermath handling, and a swift investigation; Premier Li Qiang issues directives to step up safety enforcement.

September 11, 2026：: The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatches a task force to the scene; Shandong province and Qingdao city mobilize emergency services.