28 killed as massive fire engulfs shoe factory in China’s ‘footwear capital’; workers trapped on rooftop

At least 28 people were killed after a massive fire tore through a shoe factory in China’s southeastern city of Jinjiang on Thursday, trapping dozens of workers inside the multi-storey building.

According to state news agency Xinhua, 239 people were inside the factory when the blaze erupted. Rescue teams evacuated 213 workers, but two later died in hospital. The remaining 26 people, who had initially been reported missing, were later confirmed dead, taking the death toll to 28.

Dramatic footage released by Chinese state media showed towering flames and thick black smoke engulfing the factory, while several workers stranded on the rooftop waited to be rescued.

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered an all-out rescue operation, saying the fire had caused “significant casualties”. He also called for a thorough investigation and demanded that those responsible be held strictly accountable, noting that the tragedy followed several fatal industrial accidents in recent months.

Firefighters brought the blaze largely under control by late afternoon, though crews continued dousing hotspots as thick smoke lingered over the site.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire started on the ground floor of the factory, where highly flammable shoe-making materials and adhesives were stored, allowing the flames to spread rapidly.

State broadcaster CCTV reported that the strong fumes caused eye irritation for rescuers, while stairwells cluttered with stored materials hampered evacuation and firefighting efforts.

Jinjiang, located in Fujian province, is widely regarded as China’s footwear manufacturing hub due to its large concentration of shoe and clothing factories.

Authorities have detained company executives and other relevant personnel, while the firm’s bank accounts have been frozen as investigators probe the cause of the deadly blaze.