July 9, 2026, 5:07 p.mJuly 9, 2026, 5:14 p.m
Videos on X show factory workers trapped on the roof by the flames.Video: twitter/cpf
At least 28 people have died in a fire at a shoe factory in China. As the state news agency Xinhua reported, the fire occurred in a factory in the city of Jinjiang (Fujian province). State broadcaster CCTV had previously reported that people were trapped at the scene of the fire.
According to Xinhua, China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping called for comprehensive search and rescue measures, care for those affected and a rapid investigation into the cause of the fire. Those responsible should be held strictly accountable.
There are always factory accidents
The Ministry of Emergency Management and the National Fire Authority sent a joint working group to the scene of the accident. The authorities in Fujian have mobilized forces to treat the injured and manage the situation on site. The work initially continued.
Serious industrial accidents occur again and again in China. Inadequate safety precautions or non-compliance with regulations often play a role. Just in May, 37 people were killed in an explosion at a fireworks factory in the central Chinese province of Hunan. (sda/dpa)