June 26, Kathmandu – At least 28 people have died in a fire that broke out on Thursday at a shoe factory in Fujian Province, eastern China, according to Chinese media reports. Dozens of firefighters and rescue workers were deployed to extinguish the blaze. The fire started around 12 noon local time at the Huiting shoe factory located in Jinjiang city, Fujian Province. Officials fear that there are still people trapped inside the building. President Xi Jinping stated that the fire caused “significant human casualties” and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
The latest update from China’s Xinhua News Agency confirmed 28 deaths by evening. Footage broadcast by national television CCTV showed thick black smoke billowing from the building as firefighters sprayed water both outside and inside to douse the flames. The fire had spread to lower floors, with some people seen seeking refuge on windowsills and the roof. The Ministry of Emergency Management reported in a statement that 183 rescuers and 35 vehicles had been dispatched to the scene. Xinhua added that efforts to accelerate search and rescue operations had been instructed.
According to Du Zhenzhou, head of the firefighting unit in Jinjiang, stairways and exits were blocked by shoe materials, making it difficult for rescue teams to reach the upper floors. He also explained that adhesives and raw materials used in shoe production contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. CCTV live footage showed damaged windows emitting thick gray smoke from the burned and blackened building. By Thursday evening, the Ministry of Emergency Management announced that the fire was under control. The ministry further directed full efforts toward searching for those trapped or missing, treating the injured, and completely extinguishing the fire. Xinhua reported that some individuals remained trapped and unreachable.
President Xi commented following the update, instructing authorities that “there have been many major industrial safety accidents in China this year, and all sectors and related departments must learn serious lessons from this incident.”
