At least 28 people have been killed after a fire tore through a shoe factory in the south-eastern Chinese city of Jinjiang, prompting President Xi Jinping to order a full investigation and demand that those responsible be held accountable.
The blaze broke out at the Huiteng Footwear factory in Fujian province around noon local time on Thursday, trapping workers inside the building and sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Jinjiang, widely known as China’s shoe capital, is estimated to produce around one-fifth of the world’s sports shoes.
President Xi described the fire as a tragedy that had caused major casualties and said those responsible must be strictly accountable. He also urged authorities to draw profound lessons from the incident and ensure rigorous and effective safety measures are implemented following a series of industrial accidents across the country.
State media reported that nearly 240 people were inside the factory when the fire erupted. Emergency responders evacuated 213 workers, but two later died in hospital while 26 others, who had initially been reported missing, were found dead, bringing the death toll to at least 28.
More than 500 firefighters and rescue personnel were deployed to battle the blaze and search the building for survivors, according to Chinese state media.
Footage published by state news agency Xinhua showed towering plumes of black smoke engulfing the factory, while several people appeared stranded on the roof as emergency crews battled the flames below.
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have started on the ground floor of the factory, where flammable materials were reportedly being stored, although the exact cause remains under investigation.
Authorities have detained several people linked to the factory’s owners and frozen the company’s bank accounts as investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the fire.
The incident has renewed scrutiny of industrial safety standards in China, where workplace accidents remain a persistent concern despite repeated government efforts to strengthen enforcement.
China launched a nationwide campaign to improve fire safety in high-rise buildings following a deadly blaze in several Hong Kong apartment buildings in November that killed 168 people.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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