President Xi Jinping has called ⁠for intensified search and rescue efforts after a foreign-flagged cargo ship caught fire in Qingdao.

According to Xinhua News Agency, the vessel belonging to Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. was undergoing repairs at a shipyard in Qingdao when the blaze broke out at around 11.15am on Thursday, causing heavy casualties.

Xi also called for a swift investigation and "stressed the need to urgently search for missing persons... and strictly hold those responsible to account", Xinhua said.

Premier Li Qiang also urged the search and rescue of "trapped" people, and for those injured to receive medical treatment, "and strictly prevent secondary disasters".

Beihai Shipbuilding is a major shipyard that operates as a subsidiary of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation. (Xinhua and agencies)



Edited by Tony Sabine