Cargo Ship Fire Kills 25 in China; US, Iran Trade Strikes

A fire aboard the Liberian-flagged cargo ship Ocean Melody at the Beihai Shipbuilding Co. in Qingdao, China, killed 25 people on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

The vessel, undergoing repairs, had 42 people on board. State media reported that 17 were evacuated, including five injured, and that all 25 missing individuals were found deceased by Thursday evening. The fire began around 11:15 a.m. local time and was extinguished by 2:30 p.m. President Xi Jinping issued instructions for urgent rescue and preventive measures, while Premier Li Qiang called for the rescue of trapped individuals and treatment for the injured.

Meanwhile, the United States and Iran engaged in an exchange of strikes. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated it destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers on Tuesday, September 8, in retaliation for two Iranian ballistic missile attacks on a U.S. Navy warship. Iran claimed it retaliated by striking 10 vessels, including two U.S. ships and eight oil tankers, near the Strait of Hormuz, and also launched missiles toward the Al-Azraq air base in Jordan. Jordan reported intercepting 18 Iranian missiles. The U.S. denied its warships were hit. Oil prices surged past $100 per barrel amid the escalating hostilities.