A catastrophic fire erupted on Thursday at a shoe factory in China, leading to the tragic deaths of 28 individuals. This initial toll was reported after Chinese President Xi Jinping acknowledged the “heavy loss of life” following the incident, as stated by AFP and Xinhua.
The blaze broke out around noon local time (04:00 GMT) at the Huiteng shoe factory, located in Jinjiang city, Fujian province in southeastern China.
Local fire and rescue teams deployed 183 personnel and 35 vehicles, as announced by the Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management, raising concerns over significant loss of life and substantial material damage.
Live footage broadcast by state television CCTV showed firefighters dousing a multi-story building, which was engulfed in flames and billowing thick smoke from its windows.
Reports indicated that some individuals were trapped inside the factory, making rescue efforts challenging, according to the official news agency Xinhua.
In response to such tragedies, China launched a campaign in November to address fire risks in high-rise buildings, following a massive fire in Hong Kong that resulted in 168 fatalities.
