According to a report by Xinhua News Agency, at 5:30 a.m. on July 22, the LNG-fueled hybrid container ship "Yihang Mingyuan" experienced a loud explosion in its aft compartment while berthing at Berth A101 of Yangluo Port, and some containers fell into the water. Preliminary information indicates that seven empty containers fell overboard and one crew member is missing.

After the explosion, the port control room immediately issued a work stoppage order, requiring all operating personnel and the ship's crew to evacuate to a safe area. Fire engines arrived at the pier at 5:39 a.m., and rescue efforts are still underway.

According to a previous report by Qilu Evening News, on the afternoon of July 22, some netizens posted videos online claiming that an explosion had occurred on an LNG container ship at Yangluo Port in Wuhan. The videos showed damage to the stern, collapsed containers and white tanks, with several white tanks floating on the water.

Mr. Yang, a crew member on another ship at Yangluo Port, told reporters that the explosion happened early in the morning of the 22nd, around 5 a.m., and involved an LNG-fueled vessel. "It should have been in the middle of loading and unloading operations when suddenly there was a 'bang' and an explosion occurred," he said.

Mr. Yang said the sound was very loud at the time, and the explosion took place in the engine room. He also told reporters that after the explosion, the gas tanks at the stern were thrown into the Yangtze River. "Luckily the gas tanks didn't explode, otherwise the situation would have been much worse," Mr. Yang said.

The reporter then contacted the Wuhan Maritime Safety Administration, where staff members said that the explosion was under investigation and that the results would be released to the public after the probe was completed.