China State Council investigates fatal Qingdao shipyard fire

The Chinese State Council has established a high-level investigation team to probe a fatal fire that occurred on September 10 at the Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. facility in Shandong province. The incident took place while a foreign cargo ship was undergoing maintenance, resulting in 25 deaths and five injuries.

Led by the Ministry of Emergency Management, the investigation team includes representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Transport, among others. During the first plenary meeting held on September 14, officials emphasized the need to determine the cause of the accident promptly and to strictly hold responsible parties accountable under the law.

Authorities have called on local governments, relevant departments, and central enterprises to conduct thorough inspections of fire hazards across key sectors, including chemical products, mining, transportation, and construction, to prevent similar major accidents.