Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered urgent measures to prevent major accidents following a cargo ship fire that occurred at a port in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province.
The foreign cargo ship caught fire on Thursday morning while undergoing repairs at the port, resulting in casualties, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Xi, who is also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for intensified search and rescue operations for missing persons and support for those affected by the incident.
He also directed authorities to promptly determine the cause of the fire and hold those responsible accountable.
Xi urged local governments and relevant departments to learn lessons from the accident, thoroughly identify and eliminate fire hazards, and ensure that preventive measures are effectively implemented to protect lives and property.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang separately called for immediate search and rescue efforts for trapped people and full support for the treatment of the injured. He also urged authorities to properly manage follow-up operations and prevent secondary disasters.
Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, directed the Work Safety Commission under the State Council to conduct a thorough assessment of workplace safety risks and take concrete measures to prevent major accidents.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched a team to the scene to guide rescue operations, while Shandong provincial authorities have mobilised resources for the emergency response.
Source: Xinhua News Agency