Dozens Die in Cargo Ship Fire

A blaze tore through a foreign-flagged cargo ship at a major Chinese port on Thursday, killing at least 25 people. The fire broke out around 11am aboard the Ocean Melody, a 620-foot Liberia-flagged bulk carrier docked for repairs at a shipyard in Qingdao, and burned for more than three hours before being extinguished, the BBC reports. There were 42 people on board; 17 were evacuated, with five hospitalized in stable condition, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

China's leader Xi Jinping ordered an "all-out" search and rescue effort, while Premier Li Qiang called for steps to avoid further danger. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The ship was being repaired at Beihai Shipbuilding, which is part of the state-controlled China State Shipbuilding Corporation, the AP reports.