Official media reported that a major fire broke out in a shoe factory in eastern China’s Fujian Province, causing “huge human losses” on Thursday, while rescue teams continued search and firefighting operations.The fire broke out at around 12:04 p.m. at a shoe factory in Jiangtou Village, Qindai Town, Jinjiang City, according to Xinhua News Agency. CCTV reported that several people were trapped on the roof as flames engulfed the multi-storey building and thick black smoke billowed into the sky.
Firefighters and emergency personnel rushed to the scene, deploying 183 rescue personnel and 35 vehicles. By late afternoon, the open fire had been largely extinguished, but dangerous conditions inside the plant prevented rescue teams from entering parts of the building to search for those missing.Preliminary findings indicate that the fire originated on the ground floor, where highly flammable shoemaking materials and adhesives were stored, which led to the fire spreading rapidly. CCTV said the fumes from the burning materials were extremely acrid and caused eye irritation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping issued instructions calling for comprehensive efforts to rescue those trapped, treat the injured, and determine the cause of the accident.
He also urged the authorities to hold those responsible strictly accountable.The Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying that “no effort should be spared in search and rescue operations and support for the families” of those affected, adding that the cause of the fire must be determined “quickly” to ensure accountability.
Officials have not yet released an official casualty figure. Jinjiang, often referred to as China’s “shoe capital”, produced more than 1.2 billion pairs of shoes in 2024, accounting for about one-fifth of global shoe production, according to official data.
