JINJIANG, China, July 09, Brussels Morning Newspaper – A fire at a shoe factory in southeastern China resulted in at least 28 deaths on Thursday, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. The blaze engulfed the multi-storey building of footwear manufacturer Huiteng in Fujian province, trapping workers on the rooftop.
The incident began around noon local time. Xinhua reported that 239 people were present inside the facility when the fire started. Authorities successfully evacuated 213 individuals, though two of those people later died in the hospital. The remaining 26 people, who were initially reported missing, were confirmed dead at the scene.
State media footage showed flames tearing through the building, with thick black smoke rising into the air. Several individuals appeared to be trapped on the rooftop as the smoke surrounded them during the afternoon. By 4 p.m., firefighters had managed to extinguish most of the open flames, although rescue efforts continued into the evening as fire engines remained on-site to douse the structure.
Jinjiang is recognized as a major manufacturing hub for footwear and clothing, often referred to as the “shoe capital” of China. Official data indicates that the thousands of companies operating in this sector within Jinjiang produced over 1.2 billion pairs of shoes in 2024, representing 20% of the global output.
A local official informed CCTV that the fire appeared to have started on the ground floor. The investigation is currently looking into the storage of highly flammable shoe-making materials and adhesives inside the building. These materials likely contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. Firefighters also reported that large quantities of items were piled in the stairwells, which significantly hampered emergency response and evacuation efforts. The area surrounding the factory was filled with a pungent smell, causing eye irritation for those nearby.
President Xi Jinping responded to the incident by calling for an all-out rescue effort. He noted that the disaster resulted in significant casualties and highlighted a concerning trend of deadly accidents at production facilities across the country in recent months.
Xi issued a stern directive regarding the aftermath of the tragedy. He said,
“Authorities should hold those responsible strictly accountable.”
Following the president’s instructions, local authorities have moved quickly to address the management of the firm. Xinhua confirmed that the people in charge of the company, along with other relevant personnel, have been taken into custody. Additionally, the government has frozen the company’s bank accounts as the investigation into the safety failures continues. The fire in Fujian province serves as a stark reminder of the industrial safety challenges facing manufacturing sectors in the region, particularly where hazardous chemicals and materials are stored in close proximity to work areas. Emergency teams remain on alert as the site is cleared and further inspections of similar facilities in the area are expected to follow.
