A major fire broke out at a shoe factory in eastern China’s Fujian province on Thursday, causing “heavy casualties,” and rescue teams continued search and rescue and fire-fighting operations, state media reported.According to Xinhua News Agency, a fire broke out in a shoe factory in Jiangtou Village, Chendai Town, Jinjiang City at around 12:04 noon. Flames engulfed the multi-story building, with thick smoke billowing into the sky, and several people were trapped on the roof, CCTV reported.Firefighters and emergency personnel rushed to the scene, dispatching 183 rescue workers and 35 vehicles. By late afternoon, the open flames had been largely extinguished, but hazardous conditions inside the plant prevented rescue teams from entering parts of the building to search for those still missing.Preliminary investigation results show that the fire started on the ground floor, where highly flammable shoemaking materials and adhesives are stored, causing the fire to spread quickly. CCTV said the smoke from the burning material was very pungent and could irritate the eyes.President Xi Jinping issued instructions calling for all-out efforts to rescue trapped people, treat the injured and identify the cause of the accident. He also urged relevant departments to seriously hold those responsible accountable.“We must go all out for search and rescue and give full support to the families of the victims,” Xi said, according to the official Xinhua News Agency, adding that the cause of the fire must be “quickly” identified to ensure accountability.Official casualty figures have not yet been released. Official data shows that Jinjiang, often called China’s “shoe capital”, will produce more than 1.2 billion pairs of shoes in 2024, accounting for about one-fifth of global footwear production.
