28 People Killed in Fire at Chinese Shoe Factory in Jinjiang

A blazing at the Huiteng Footwear plant in Jinjiang, China’s shoe capital, killed at least 28 people, according to state news agency Xinhua.

The footage shows black smoke plumes and people trapped on the roof as the fire broke out around noon local time (12:00 p.m.).

President Xi Jinping condemned the tragedy, demanding strict accountability for those responsible. Authorities detained several factory owners and froze the company’s bank account.

Jinjiang, in Fujian province, is known for producing about 20 % of the world’s sports shoes. The fire was said to have started on the ground floor where flammable materials were stored.

Hundreds of rescue workers arrived on scene, evacuating more than 200 people. The exact number of injured remains unknown.

China has tightened fire safety regulations since a November blaze in Hong Kong that claimed 168 lives.