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

At least 28 people were killed after a fire swept through a shoe factory in eastern China's Fujian province on July 9.

The blaze broke out around noon at the Huiteng Shoes factory in Jinjiang city, prompting a major emergency response as firefighters worked to contain the flames and search for survivors, Caliber.Az reports, citing Euronews.

Chinese President Xi Jinping described the incident as causing "heavy human losses."

"The cause of the accident should be identified as soon as possible and...those responsible must be strictly held accountable," Xi said.

China's Ministry of Emergency Management said 183 rescue personnel and 35 vehicles had been deployed to the site.

Authorities ordered "all-out" efforts to extinguish the blaze, search for those trapped and provide medical treatment to the injured.

State media reported that some individuals remained trapped and unaccounted for.

The incident comes as China continues efforts to improve fire safety standards following a series of deadly blazes in recent years.

In November, authorities launched a nationwide campaign targeting fire risks in high-rise buildings after a major fire in Hong Kong killed 168 people. A month later, another fire in a residential building in Guangdong province claimed 12 lives.

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A fire at a shoe factory in southeastern China left casualties on July 9, as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze ​and rescue people trapped inside, CNN reports.

The fire broke out at around noon (0400 GMT) on July 9 in the city of Jinjiang in ⁠Fujian province, with some people trapped on the rooftop. It was not immediately clear how many have been killed or ⁠injured.

Videos released by state TV showed flames engulfing the multi-story factory and thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Several people, apparently trapped by the blaze, could be seen on the ‌rooftop as smoke ⁠swirled around them.

Firefighting efforts were still underway, although open flames had largely been extinguished by about 5:40 p.m. (0940 GMT), a local firefighting official said. Fire and rescue teams dispatched 183 ​people and 35 vehicles to the site.

Preliminary findings indicate the ​fire started ‌on ​the ground floor of the factory, a local official said. Shoe-making materials stored in the building were highly flammable ⁠and could cause a blaze to spread rapidly, ​the official noted.

Due to the materials and adhesives present, the ​smell at the scene was ⁠quite pungent, causing eye irritation. Jinjiang, in the coastal Fujian province, is a major footwear and ⁠apparel ‌manufacturing hub and is often referred to as China’s “shoe capital.”

The thousands of companies in the city ‌made ‌over 1.2 ​billion pairs ​of shoes in 2024, accounting for 20% of global output, according to official data.

By Vafa Guliyeva