China Shoe Factory Fire Kills 28, President Calls for Accountability
A fire at a shoe factory in the southeastern Chinese city of Jinjiang has killed at least 28 people, state news agency Xinhua reported. The blaze erupted at the Huiteng Footwear factory around noon local time on Thursday.
Video footage showed large plumes of black smoke rising from the building and people on the roof. Hundreds of rescue workers were dispatched, and more than 200 people were evacuated from the site, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Among the 213 evacuated, two later died in hospital. Twenty-six others initially reported missing were found dead. Authorities said nearly 240 people were in the factory when the fire started.
Initial reports indicate the fire may have begun on the ground floor, where flammable materials were stored. A number of individuals connected to the factory's owners have been detained, and the company's bank account has been frozen, state media reported.
President Xi Jinping stated that the blaze had caused 'major casualties' and called for those responsible to be held 'strictly accountable.' He urged officials to learn 'profound lessons' from several industrial safety accidents this year and to implement rigorous safety measures.
Jinjiang, in Fujian province, is often called China's 'shoe capital' as it manufactures about 20% of the world's sports shoes. The fire comes after a national campaign to prevent fires in high-rise buildings, following a deadly blaze in Hong Kong that killed 168 people in November.
