A catastrophic fire at the Huiteng Shoes factory in Jinjiang city, Fujian province, has killed at least 28 workers. The blaze broke out Thursday around noon, with fears that people remained trapped inside the multi-story building.
President Xi Jinping called the fire a tragedy resulting in "heavy human losses," ordering the cause to be determined and those responsible held accountable.
Emergency services dispatched 183 personnel and 35 vehicles to the scene. Footage showed thick black smoke pouring from the building as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames and search for survivors.
This incident follows a series of deadly fires in China, including a November 2025 tower block blaze in Hong Kong that killed 168 people, which prompted a national campaign against fire hazards.