At least 28 people have died after a fire tore through a shoe factory in southeastern China, trapping hundreds of workers inside the multi-storey building. Authorities said more than 200 people escaped, while others were unable to get out before the blaze spread.
The fire broke out shortly after midday on Thursday at footwear manufacturer Huiteng in the city of Jinjiang, Fujian province, according to state news agency Xinhua.
A total of 239 people were inside the factory when the fire started. Authorities said 213 workers managed to escape, while two later died in hospital. Another 26 people, who had initially been reported missing, were later confirmed dead.
Videos broadcast by Chinese state media showed flames engulfing the factory as thick black smoke billowed into the sky. Several workers could be seen stranded on the roof while firefighters battled the blaze below.
Fire crews continued working throughout the afternoon, although officials said the main flames had been brought under control by around 4pm local time. Thick smoke was still rising from the site hours later as firefighters continued to douse the building with water.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered an all-out rescue effort, saying the fire had "caused significant casualties". He noted that the tragedy followed a series of deadly industrial accidents in recent months and called on authorities to hold those responsible "strictly accountable".
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire started on the ground floor of the factory.
Local officials said large quantities of highly flammable shoe-making materials and adhesives helped the flames spread rapidly through the building.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that the fumes at the scene were so strong they caused eye irritation, while firefighters said piles of stored materials blocking stairwells made rescue efforts more difficult.
Police have taken company executives and other relevant personnel into custody, while the firm's bank accounts have been frozen as the investigation continues.
Jinjiang, on China's southeastern coast, is one of the country's largest footwear manufacturing centres and is widely known as the country's "shoe capital".
According to official figures, the city's thousands of footwear companies produced more than 1.2 billion pairs of shoes in 2024, accounting for around one in every five pairs made worldwide.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. T...
Beijing is using Shanghai’s artificial intelligence (AI) forum to promote its governance agenda and showcase domestic alternatives to U.S. technolo...
Azerbaijan and UN-Habitat have signed a cooperation agreement to support sustainable urban development in the East Zangezur Economic Region. The partn...
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
A woman whose husband was sucked out of the window of a plane during a Ryanair flight has recounted pulling her husband to safety. Serbian couple Svetlana Maksimovic and Ljubisa Karovic had just settled into a flight with the airline last week, when a loud bang pierced the hum of engines.
On 16 July, AnewZ's Daybreak focused on escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, growing concerns over global energy supplies, and France's landmark assisted-dying legislation.
Azerbaijan is moving to speed up and simplify trade with partner countries along the Middle Corridor by expanding its Single Window information system.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
The United States carried out a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, targeting military capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iranian shipping and proposed a 20% fee on cargo passing through the strategic waterway.
The death toll from the fire at a live music pub in Bangkok has climbed to 32 after two more victims died from their injuries, according to Thailand's Police Hospital.
Ukraine and Russia exchanged fresh attacks on Tuesday, with Kyiv targeting shipping and energy infrastructure inside Russia while Moscow launched another large-scale missile and drone assault on Ukrainian cities.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
A woman whose husband was sucked out of the window of a plane during a Ryanair flight has recounted pulling her husband to safety. Serbian couple Svetlana Maksimovic and Ljubisa Karovic had just settled into a flight with the airline last week, when a loud bang pierced the hum of engines.
Russia launched a fresh wave of missile strikes on Ukraine early on Thursday, saying it had hit military and industrial facilities in Kyiv, as well as key port infrastructure in the southern Odesa region.
Uganda is expected to discharge its final Ebola patient on Thursday, beginning the 42-day countdown required before the country can be declared free of the virus if no new cases emerge, according to a government spokesperson.
The U.S. Coast Guard has called off its search for three people missing after a pontoon boat capsized near Alcatraz, leaving four people dead or presumed dead.
The U.S. Mint has begun producing a new $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump as part of commemorations marking the United States' 250th anniversary, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment