In brief
A massive blaze broke out at the Huiteng Footwear factory in Jinjiang, a city that produces 20% of the world’s sports shoes. At least 28 workers died, and hundreds were evacuated amid rising black smoke from a high‑rise building. President Xi Jinping condemned the tragedy and demanded strict accountability from those responsible. Investigators suggest the fire began on the ground floor where flammable materials were stored. The incident highlights China’s ongoing crackdown on industrial fire safety following previous major incidents.
Factory fire kills at least 28 in China’s ‘shoe capital’
A fire erupted at the Huiteng Footwear factory in Jinjiang, Fujian, killing at least 28 people and forcing authorities to detain several company employees.
The blaze, which began around noon local time, produced towering black smoke and left many workers trapped on the roof. More than 200 people were evacuated and hundreds of rescue workers responded.
President Xi Jinping said the incident caused “major casualties” and demanded that the responsible parties be “strictly accountable.” Initial investigations point to combustible materials stored on the ground floor as a possible spark trigger.
Jinjiang, often dubbed China’s shoe capital, accounts for about 20% of global sports‑shoe production. The incident adds to Beijing’s push to curb fire risks in high‑rise industrial buildings, following a deadly Hong Kong apartment fire that claimed 168 lives last November.
