At least 25 people have been killed after a fire broke out aboard a foreign-flagged cargo ship at a port in eastern China, Chinese state media reported.
The vessel had 42 people on board when the fire started at about 11:15am local time in a shipyard in Qingdao, where it was undergoing maintenance.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, 17 people were evacuated from the ship, with five taken to hospital in stable condition.
The fire was brought under control just over three hours after it started.
Images released by Chinese state media showed the vessel identified as the Ocean Melody, a 190-metre (623ft) Liberia-flagged carrier that arrived in Qingdao on August 31, according to vessel-tracking website MarineTraffic.
The cause of the fire remains unclear.
An eyewitness told AFP that thick smoke was rising from the ship but said there was no explosion.
Qingdao is a major trading hub and one of the busiest ports in the world.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out” search and rescue efforts, while Premier Li Qiang urged authorities to rescue anyone still trapped on board and prevent further disasters.
The incident comes nearly a month after an explosion at a shipyard in Fujian Province, southeastern China, killed one rescue worker and injured 12 others.
