At least 28 people have been confirmed dead after a fire ripped through a shoe factory in eastern China’s Fujian Province, prompting a major emergency response, state media reported.
The blaze broke out around noon on Thursday at the Huiteng Shoes factory in Jinjiang City, with authorities initially fearing that several people remained trapped inside the multi-storey building.
Chinese President Xi Jinping described the incident as a tragedy that resulted in “heavy human losses” and ordered a swift investigation into the cause of the fire.
Footage broadcast by state television CCTV showed firefighters battling the blaze as thick black smoke billowed from the factory. Some workers were seen taking refuge near windows and on the roof while flames engulfed the lower floors.
According to China’s Ministry of Emergency Management, 183 firefighters and rescue personnel, supported by 35 emergency vehicles, were deployed to the scene.
Jinjiang Fire Chief Du Zhenzhou said rescue efforts were hampered because stairwells and emergency exits were blocked with shoe materials. He added that adhesives and other combustible raw materials used in shoe production intensified the fire.
By Thursday afternoon, emergency officials said the blaze had been largely brought under control, while rescue teams continued searching for survivors and treating the injured.
President Xi called for a thorough investigation into the incident and urged authorities to hold those responsible accountable.
“The cause of the accident should be identified as soon as possible and those responsible must be strictly held accountable,” he said.
Xi also noted that China had recorded several major industrial safety accidents this year and urged all regions and government agencies to strengthen workplace safety measures to prevent similar tragedies.
China has intensified efforts to improve fire safety following a series of deadly incidents, including a fatal high-rise fire, a residential building blaze in Guangdong Province, and an explosion at a fireworks factory earlier this year.
