Shoe factory fire in China kills at least 28
Quick Look
- A fire at the Huiteng Shoes factory in eastern China has killed at least 28 people, with many feared trapped.
- President Xi Jinping called for intensified search and rescue efforts following the blaze.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
China launched a campaign against fire hazards in high-rise buildings in November after a blaze killed 168 people in Hong Kong. A month later, 12 people died in a residential building fire in Guangdong province.
At least 28 have been killed in a shoe factory fire in China, according to state media.
Many people were believed to be trapped inside the factory when the blaze broke out about 12pm local time.
Chinese fire and rescue personnel raced to tackle the fire at the Huiteng Shoes factory in the country's east, dispatching 183 people and 35 vehicles to the scene.
Footage shared by state television CCTV showed firefighters dousing the facade and interior of a large, multi-story white building with fire hoses, as thick black smoke pours out.
Earlier, President Xi Jinping said the fire had resulted in "heavy human losses" and called for increased search and rescue efforts.
Live footage aired by state media showed the charred multi-story building with thick grey smoke billowing from broken windows with some people taking refuge near the windows and on the roof of the building.
China launched a campaign against fire hazards in high-rise buildings in November, after a huge blaze engulfed several tower blocks in Hong Kong, killing 168 people.
A month later, a fire at a residential building in southern China's Guangdong province killed 12 people.
Open Questions
- What caused the fire?
- Were safety regulations followed?
- What is the condition of the injured?