At least 28 killed in shoe factory fire in southeast China, state media says

A devastating fire ripped through a shoe factory in Jinjiang, Fujian province, on Thursday, claiming the lives of at least 28 workers. The blaze rapidly engulfed the multi-story Huiteng footwear manufacturing facility, trapping employees on the rooftop as thick black smoke billowed into the sky. Of the 239 people present at the factory when the fire broke out around noon local time, 213 were evacuated. Tragically, two of the evacuated individuals died after being hospitalized, while 26 others initially reported missing were confirmed dead at the scene.

Videos released by state media captured the harrowing scene, showing flames consuming the building and people trapped on the roof. Chinese President Xi Jinping issued urgent instructions for an all-out rescue effort and demanded strict accountability for those responsible. He noted the fire followed a series of deadly accidents at production facilities across the country in recent months.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire originated on the ground floor, fueled by highly flammable shoe-making materials and adhesives. Firefighters reported that large amounts of items piled in stairwells hampered rescue and firefighting efforts. In response to the tragedy, authorities have taken company personnel into custody and frozen the company's bank accounts. Jinjiang, known as China's "shoe capital," is a major hub for footwear and clothing manufacturing.

“

caused significant casualties