At least 28 killed in shoe factory fire in China, state media says

Lead

At least 28 people were killed in a fire at a shoe factory in eastern China on Thursday, according to state media reports. The blaze broke out at the Huiteng Shoes factory in Jinjiang, a city in Fujian province often referred to as China's "shoe capital." President Xi Jinping has ordered an all-out effort to rescue and treat the victims and demanded a swift investigation into the cause.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from multiple outlets, including ABC Australia, the BBC, the Jerusalem Post, the South China Morning Post, and The Hindu, all confirmed the death toll of at least 28. They differed slightly in their geographic descriptions, with some calling the location "eastern China" and others "southeastern China," but all referred to the same city of Jinjiang in Fujian province.

State news agency Xinhua reported that the fire occurred at around noon local time. The Jerusalem Post, citing Xinhua, provided additional details: 239 people were at the factory when the fire broke out, 213 were evacuated, two of those evacuated died after being taken to hospital, and 26 others previously reported missing were confirmed dead.

Video footage posted by Xinhua and circulated on social media showed towering flames and thick black smoke billowing from the building. Some footage showed people trapped on the rooftop, signaling for help. The South China Morning Post reported that 183 firefighters and 35 fire trucks were sent to the scene by fire authorities in the city of Quanzhou, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.

President Xi Jinping's response was a focal point of several reports. ABC Australia and The Hindu quoted him as saying the fire resulted in "heavy human losses." The Jerusalem Post and South China Morning Post reported that he ordered all-out rescue efforts, demanded a swift inquiry into the cause, and called for those responsible to be held strictly accountable.

Key Claims

• Death toll: At least 28 people were killed in the fire, according to state media Xinhua, as reported by multiple outlets.
• Incident details: The fire broke out at the Huiteng Shoes factory on Kaituo Road East in Jiangtou village, Chendai township, Jinjiang. The Jerusalem Post, citing Xinhua, reported that 239 people were at the factory when the fire started; 213 were evacuated.
• President's response: Xi Jinping ordered all-out rescue efforts and called for an investigation, according to reports from the South China Morning Post and Jerusalem Post.
• Emergency response: 183 firefighters and 35 fire trucks were dispatched to the scene, as reported by the South China Morning Post, citing CCTV.
• Investigation: The Jerusalem Post, citing Xinhua, reported that preliminary findings indicated the fire started on the ground floor, and that people in charge of the company and "other relevant personnel" have been taken into custody.

Perspectives

Chinese government/state media

The official response, as conveyed through state media, emphasized President Xi Jinping's directive for all-out rescue efforts, swift investigation, and holding those responsible accountable. State media also provided operational details of the emergency response, including firefighting resources and the evacuation figures.

Company officials (as reported)

The Jerusalem Post reported that people in charge of the company and "other relevant personnel" have been taken into custody, indicating that authorities are pursuing accountability for the incident.