China launched two new groups of remote sensing satellites from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Thursday.
The satellites of the Yaogan-53 and Yaogan-56 groups were launched at 17:00 (Beijing Time) aboard a Long March-4B carrier rocket, and they entered the preset orbits successfully.
They are primarily used for scientific experiments, land and resources surveys, crop yield estimation and disaster prevention and reduction.
The launch marked the 666th mission of the Long March carrier rockets.
China launches new remote sensing satellite groups
A foreign cargo ship caught fire at a shipyard in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, on Thursday, resulting in 25 deaths, local authorities said.
The fire broke out at around 11:15 when the ship was undergoing maintenance at China State Shipbuilding Corporation Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, according to the municipal fire and rescue bureau.
A total of 42 people were aboard the ship. Twelve were safely evacuated, and five injured individuals were taken to the hospital, where they are in stable condition.
The blaze was extinguished at around 14:30.
Emergency management, fire and rescue, police, and medical departments were immediately mobilized to carry out search and rescue operations following the incident.
Cargo ship fire kills 25 in east China's Qingdao
