20 dead, five missing as cargo ship catches fire in China

At least 20 people have died after a cargo ship caught fire while undergoing repairs at a shipyard in Qingdao, a major port city in northeastern China.

The vessel, identified as the Liberian-flagged *Ocean Melody*, was docked at Beihai Shipbuilding Co. when the fire broke out at about 11am on Thursday, according to Chinese state media reports.

There were 42 people aboard the ship at the time of the incident.

Twelve people were evacuated safely, while five others were injured and taken to hospital. Their conditions were reported to be stable.

The blaze was brought under control at about 2:30pm, but five people remained unaccounted for as rescue teams continued their search.

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered authorities to prioritise rescue efforts and called for urgent measures to deal with the emergency.

Premier Li Qiang also directed officials to do everything possible to rescue anyone who might still be trapped and to minimise further casualties.

Authorities have yet to disclose the cause of the fire.

Investigations into the incident are expected to focus on how the fire started and whether safety procedures at the shipyard were properly followed.

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