Fujian Shoe Factory Fire Kills 28, Rescue Efforts Underway
A deadly fire at the Huiteng Shoes factory in Jinjiang, Fujian province killed at least 28 people after 237 workers and two visitors were inside; 213 were evacuated, with two later pronounced dead and 26 more missing before confirmation, bringing the death toll to 28. More than 180 firefighters fought the blaze, which began on the ground floor and spread rapidly, possibly aided by highly flammable shoe materials. President Xi Jinping urged accountability and a thorough investigation, and officials vowed an all-out effort to extinguish the fire and search for survivors.
