A devastating fire tore through a shoe manufacturing factory in eastern China’s Fujian Province on Thursday, killing at least 28 people and leaving several others unaccounted for, according to state media. The tragedy has prompted a large-scale rescue operation involving more than 500 firefighters and emergency personnel, while authorities investigate the cause of the disaster and assess responsibility for one of the country’s deadliest industrial accidents this year.
The fire erupted around noon local time at the Huiteng Shoes factory in Jinjiang, a city renowned as one of China’s largest footwear manufacturing hubs. Thick black smoke quickly engulfed the multi-storey industrial building, trapping dozens of workers inside as flames spread through the lower levels of the factory.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene shortly after the blaze broke out, battling intense heat and hazardous conditions in an effort to rescue workers believed to be trapped inside. State broadcaster CCTV showed dramatic footage of firefighters directing powerful streams of water toward the burning structure while dense smoke poured from shattered windows. Several people were seen taking refuge near windows and on the rooftop as rescuers worked desperately to reach them.
Authorities said more than 500 firefighters and rescue workers were deployed to contain the blaze, which burned for several hours before emergency crews gained control. Despite the massive response, rescue efforts were complicated by the factory’s layout and the highly combustible materials stored inside.
Chinese President Xi Jinping described the incident as a tragedy that resulted in “heavy human losses” and ordered authorities to make every possible effort to rescue survivors, treat the injured, and determine the cause of the disaster. He stressed that those responsible for any negligence leading to the fire must be held fully accountable under the law.
“The cause of the accident should be identified as soon as possible, and those responsible must be strictly held accountable,” Xi said in remarks carried by the state-run Xinhua News Agency.
According to preliminary reports released by state media, at least 28 people were confirmed dead. However, officials warned that the death toll could rise as rescue teams continued searching the damaged building for workers who remained missing.
Authorities said several individuals were still trapped or out of contact following the fire. Rescue teams continued combing through the heavily damaged factory amid fears that survivors could still be inside.
The Ministry of Emergency Management ordered an “all-out” rescue effort, directing local authorities to prioritize locating trapped workers, extinguishing the remaining flames, and providing immediate medical treatment to the injured.
Initial reports indicated that 237 factory employees and two delivery workers were inside the building when the fire broke out. State broadcaster CCTV reported that 213 people had been safely evacuated, although officials did not immediately clarify how those figures corresponded with the confirmed fatalities and the number of people still missing.
Fire officials said the rescue operation faced enormous challenges due to blocked escape routes within the factory. Jinjiang Fire Chief Du Zhenzhou told state media that stairwells and emergency exits had been obstructed by stacks of shoe materials, making it difficult for firefighters to reach workers trapped on the upper floors.
Du also explained that adhesives, solvents, and other raw materials commonly used in shoe manufacturing significantly intensified the blaze. These flammable substances caused the fire to spread rapidly through the building, producing dense smoke and extreme heat that complicated rescue operations.
Investigators are now working to determine the exact cause of the fire. Although no official conclusion has been released, authorities have already taken action against the factory’s management.
According to Xinhua, the owner of the Huiteng Shoes factory, along with several other individuals connected to the company, has been detained pending investigation. Authorities have also frozen the company’s financial accounts as part of the inquiry.
The swift legal action reflects China’s increasingly strict approach toward industrial safety violations following a series of fatal workplace disasters in recent years.
President Xi acknowledged that China has experienced several major industrial accidents during the year and called for stronger enforcement of workplace safety regulations nationwide.
“All regions and relevant departments must draw profound lessons from these incidents,” Xi said. “They should implement rigorous and effective safety measures to prevent similar tragedies.”
The latest disaster has once again highlighted longstanding concerns regarding industrial safety standards in parts of China’s vast manufacturing sector. While the country has significantly improved workplace regulations over the past decade, deadly factory fires and explosions continue to occur, often linked to inadequate fire prevention measures, unsafe storage of hazardous materials, blocked evacuation routes, or failures to comply with safety requirements.
Jinjiang occupies a critical position within China’s manufacturing industry. Located in Fujian Province on the country’s southeastern coast, the city is internationally recognized as one of the world’s leading centers for footwear production. Thousands of factories in the region manufacture athletic shoes, casual footwear, and sporting goods for both domestic and international markets.
The concentration of large manufacturing facilities handling flammable chemicals and industrial materials makes workplace safety a constant concern for local authorities. Experts have repeatedly emphasized the need for strict enforcement of fire codes, regular inspections, employee safety training, and proper emergency evacuation procedures.
China has undertaken several nationwide campaigns aimed at improving industrial safety following a succession of deadly accidents. In November, the government launched a comprehensive campaign targeting fire hazards in high-rise buildings after a catastrophic blaze in Hong Kong claimed 168 lives. The initiative focused on strengthening fire prevention systems, improving emergency preparedness, and removing potential hazards from residential and commercial buildings.
Just one month later, another deadly fire at a residential building in Guangdong Province killed 12 people, reinforcing concerns about fire safety across multiple sectors.
Industrial accidents have also remained a major challenge. In May, an explosion at a fireworks factory in central China killed 37 people, making it one of the country’s deadliest workplace disasters in recent years. That incident prompted renewed calls for stricter oversight of industries dealing with hazardous materials and explosive substances.
Thursday’s factory fire is expected to intensify those discussions as investigators examine whether safety violations contributed to the high death toll.
Emergency crews remained at the scene throughout the day and into the evening, continuing to search the damaged building while ensuring the fire had been fully extinguished. Medical personnel treated injured workers and transported victims to nearby hospitals, although officials had not released details regarding the number or condition of those injured.
Authorities have pledged a comprehensive investigation into every aspect of the disaster, including the factory’s fire safety systems, building design, emergency exits, storage of combustible materials, and compliance with workplace safety regulations.
As rescue operations continue, the tragedy has sent shockwaves through Jinjiang’s manufacturing community and across China, serving as another painful reminder of the devastating human cost that can result when industrial fires strike densely populated workplaces.
The investigation is expected to determine not only how the fire began but also whether lapses in safety management, emergency preparedness, or regulatory compliance contributed to the scale of the disaster. Officials say the findings will be used to strengthen fire prevention measures nationwide and help prevent similar incidents in the future.
For the families of those who lost their lives, however, the focus remains on recovering loved ones and seeking answers after one of the country’s worst industrial tragedies of the year.
