A devastating fire at a shoe manufacturing factory in eastern China has claimed the lives of at least 28 people, making it one of the country’s deadliest industrial disasters in recent years and prompting Chinese President Xi Jinping to order an immediate nationwide review of workplace safety.
The blaze swept through Huiteng Shoes, a major footwear manufacturer in Jinjiang, Fujian Province, on Thursday, trapping workers inside the multi story factory as flames rapidly spread through highly combustible shoe making materials.
Chinese authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the incident, detained company executives and frozen the firm’s financial accounts while rescue operations and forensic examinations continue.
What we know so far
The fire erupted shortly after noon at the Huiteng Shoes factory, a five story reinforced concrete building that housed production workshops and storage facilities on its lower floors.
Authorities said 239 people, including factory workers and visitors, were inside the building when the fire began.
Emergency crews evacuated 213 people from the facility. Two of those rescued later died in hospital while another 26 people initially listed as missing were subsequently confirmed dead, bringing the total death toll to 28.
State broadcaster CCTV showed firefighters battling heavy flames engulfing multiple floors as thick black smoke poured from shattered windows. Video footage also captured several people seeking refuge on the rooftop and near upper floor windows while rescue teams worked to reach them.
Firefighters eventually brought the blaze under control after nearly four hours. More than 500 emergency personnel participated in rescue and recovery efforts.
Investigators believe the fire originated on the building’s ground floor, where warehouses stored shoe components, adhesives and other highly flammable manufacturing materials that accelerated the spread of the flames.
Officials also found that large quantities of materials stacked inside stairwells obstructed escape routes and delayed firefighting operations.
What authorities are saying
President Xi Jinping described the tragedy as one that caused significant loss of life and directed authorities to make every effort to rescue victims, determine the cause of the disaster quickly and ensure those responsible are held accountable.
The Ministry of Emergency Management mobilized 183 firefighters and 35 emergency vehicles to the scene.
State news agency Xinhua said the company’s owner and other responsible officials have been taken into custody while authorities froze the company’s bank accounts pending the outcome of the investigation.
Local fire officials indicated that combustible shoe manufacturing materials significantly intensified the blaze and complicated rescue efforts.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Why this matters
The latest tragedy once again highlights China’s continuing struggle with industrial safety despite years of government crackdowns on workplace hazards.
China remains one of the world’s largest manufacturing centers, employing millions of workers across factories producing footwear, electronics, textiles and industrial goods. While official statistics indicate workplace fatalities have declined in recent years, major industrial disasters continue to expose weaknesses in safety enforcement, emergency preparedness and regulatory oversight.
Jinjiang holds particular importance within China’s manufacturing economy. Often referred to as the country’s shoe manufacturing capital, the city produced more than 1.2 billion pairs of shoes in 2024, representing about one fifth of global footwear production.
Industrial fires at factories producing shoes, textiles and chemicals often become especially deadly because of the large quantities of flammable adhesives, synthetic materials and packaging stored inside production facilities. Obstructed exits and poor storage practices have repeatedly been identified as factors that increase casualty figures during such incidents.
The disaster also follows several other fatal workplace accidents in China over the past two years, reinforcing public concern over factory safety despite repeated government campaigns aimed at reducing industrial accidents.
What happens next
Investigators are expected to complete forensic examinations to determine the exact cause of the fire while reviewing whether the factory complied with national fire safety regulations.
Authorities will likely examine building evacuation procedures, storage practices and emergency response measures to determine whether negligence contributed to the high death toll.
The findings could result in criminal charges against company officials as well as broader inspections of manufacturing facilities across Fujian Province and other industrial regions.
The outcome of the investigation may also shape future workplace safety policies as China seeks to prevent similar tragedies in one of its most critical manufacturing sectors.
Although Chinese authorities have intensified workplace safety inspections in recent years, recurring industrial disasters continue to reveal gaps between national regulations and enforcement at the factory level. Facilities that manufacture footwear, textiles and chemical products present elevated fire risks because of combustible raw materials and industrial adhesives.
This latest disaster is likely to trigger renewed scrutiny of emergency preparedness standards, factory design and regulatory compliance across China’s manufacturing industry. Beyond the immediate criminal investigation, the incident may prompt stricter inspections, tighter enforcement and broader reforms aimed at reducing industrial fire risks in one of the world’s largest production hubs.
Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, Euro News (citing AFP)
