Massive fire at shoe factory in China, 28 dead

July 10, 2026

China: At least 28 people were killed in a massive fire at a shoe factory in Jinjiang City, in China’s southeastern Fujian province, on Thursday afternoon. The fire broke out at the Huiteng Shoe Factory in Jiangtou Village, trapping several workers inside.

At the time of the accident, 239 people were present in the factory, including 237 workers and two visitors. Rescue and relief teams evacuated 213 people safely. Two people died in hospital, while the bodies of 26 others who were missing were later recovered. More than 180 firefighters and 35 fire trucks were sent to the scene to extinguish the blaze.

President Xi Jinping orders investigation

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed deep regret over the accident and called for a swift investigation into the cause of the fire and strict action against those responsible for negligence.

Flammable materials caused the fire

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the fire started on the ground floor of the factory. The flammable materials used in shoe manufacturing caused the fire to spread rapidly throughout the building. This accident has once again raised questions about industrial safety standards and their compliance in China.