A raging fire ripped through the Huiteng Shoes factory in Jinjiang, Fujian province on Thursday, leaving a minimum of 28 dead, according to state media. More than 500 fire‑fighters and rescue crews battled the blaze while officials feared that many workers remained trapped inside the multi‑storey plant.

Rapid spread and early casualty figures

Within hours of the fire breaking out around noon (0400 GMT), authorities reported that stairwells and exits were clogged with shoe‑making materials, adhesives and other flammable substances, accelerating the fire’s growth. CCTV footage showed thick black smoke billowing from shattered windows as fire hoses drenched the building’s façade and interior.

Xi Jinping’s response and call for accountability

President Xi Jinping described the incident as "heavy human losses" and ordered an "all‑out search and rescue effort." He stressed that the cause must be identified promptly and that those responsible should be held strictly accountable. State news agency Xinhua later reported that the factory’s owner and several others were detained, and the company’s accounts have been frozen.

Learning from past industrial accidents

This tragedy joins a series of major industrial safety incidents in China this year. In May, a fireworks factory blast in central China killed 37 people, while a residential‑building fire in Guangdong province a month earlier claimed 12 lives. Both events have intensified calls for tighter safety oversight.

China launched a nationwide campaign against fire hazards in high‑rise structures last November, after a Hong Kong tower fire killed 168. The Jinjiang blaze now re‑highlights the urgency of enforcing robust fire‑safety protocols, especially in regions that serve as global hubs for athletic footwear manufacturing.

Fire chief Du Zhenzhou of Jinjiang told reporters that rescuers struggled to reach upper floors because stairwells were blocked by shoe materials, underscoring the need for clear evacuation routes and proper storage of combustible substances.