At least 20 people killed after fire breaks out on cargo ship in Chinese port

At least 20 people have been killed and five are missing after a cargo ship caught fire while docked in a Chinese port, state media has said.

A total of 42 people had been on the Ocean Melody, which was undergoing repairs in the city of Qingdao - a major shipping hub on the northeastern Chinese coast, the Xinhua news agency said.

Twelve on board were safely rescued, with five others in a stable condition in hospital, the news agency added.

The fire started at around 11am local time on Thursday and was extinguished by 2.30pm.

The vessel - which sails under a Liberian flag - initially arrived at the shipyard on August 31 and has remained there since.

China's president Xi Jinping issued "important instructions" to urgently conduct rescue operations for the missing people.

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He also called for a swift investigation and accountability measures.

The shipyard is operated by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), ​one of the world's largest shipbuilders.

The corporation describes itself as China's main naval shipbuilder and the country's biggest builder of offshore equipment.

(c) Sky News 2026: At least 20 people killed after fire breaks out on cargo ship in Chinese port