At least 28 killed in fire at shoe factory in eastern China

At least 28 people have died after a fire engulfed a shoe factory in Jinjiang, eastern China, state media reported on Thursday, as firefighters continued to battle the blaze and rescue efforts entered a critical phase.
The fire broke out shortly after noon local time at the Huiteng Shoes factory in Jinjiang, a city in Fujian province known for its footwear industry, according to preliminary reports cited by Reuters . Thick black smoke billowed from the multi-storey white building as firefighters, numbering at least 200, struggled to contain the flames. State broadcaster CCTV showed footage of crews dousing the structure with water, while Xinhua, China’s official news agency, confirmed the death toll had reached 28 .
Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking through state media, described the human losses as “heavy” and ordered “comprehensive search and rescue operations,” as well as support for affected families and a swift investigation into the cause . The blaze, which began in the factory’s ground floor, spread rapidly due to the highly flammable materials stored there—synthetic compounds commonly used in shoe manufacturing .
Emergency services mobilised 183 firefighters and 35 vehicles to the scene, but officials warned that the death toll could rise as search teams continued to comb through the damaged structure. Local authorities have not yet released details on the number of people still unaccounted for, though state media described the situation as “under control” .
The disaster has drawn comparisons to past industrial fires in China, where lax safety standards and overcrowded working conditions have historically contributed to high fatality rates. Jinjiang, a hub for footwear production, has seen several fatal factory incidents in recent years, though none on this scale in recent memory. The Huiteng Shoes factory, a mid-sized facility, employs hundreds of workers, many of whom are migrants from rural areas.
State media outlets, including Xinhua and CCTV, have framed the response as a test of China’s emergency management capabilities, with Xi’s intervention signalling the central government’s direct involvement . Analysts suggest the incident could prompt a review of industrial safety regulations, particularly in high-risk sectors such as textiles and footwear, where synthetic materials and poor ventilation often exacerbate fire risks.
Footage shared by CCTV showed firefighters struggling against intense heat and smoke, with some sections of the building already partially collapsed . The factory’s location in a densely populated urban area raised concerns about potential secondary hazards, though authorities have not reported any additional threats to nearby residents.
International observers, including the AFP news agency, have echoed the urgency of the rescue operation, noting that the final toll may climb as recovery teams gain access to the most severely damaged sections of the building . The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of workplace safety in China, where industrial accidents have drawn both domestic and global criticism.
As the fire continued to smoulder late into the evening, local officials vowed to provide full support to the victims’ families and pledged transparency in the investigation. The factory has been sealed off, and forensic teams are expected to begin examining the site within hours to determine the fire’s origin and any potential negligence.
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