Devastating Shoe Factory Fire Kills at Least 28

A massive fire tore through a shoe factory in southeastern China on Thursday, killing at least 28 people and turning one of the country’s major footwear hubs into the scene of a deadly industrial disaster.

The blaze erupted around noon local time on July 9 at the Huiteng shoe factory in Jinjiang, a city in Fujian province often called China’s “shoe capital.” The area is a major footwear manufacturing center and reportedly produces about 20% of the world’s sports shoes.

According to state media, 239 people were inside the factory when the fire broke out, including 237 workers and two visitors. Authorities said 213 people were evacuated from the building. Two people later died after being taken to the hospital, while 26 others who had initially been reported missing were later confirmed dead.

It remains unclear how many people were injured.

Dramatic footage released by Chinese state media showed thick black smoke pouring from the multi-story building as flames ripped through the structure. Some people appeared to be trapped on the roof as smoke surrounded the factory.

The fire reportedly began on the first level of a five-story concrete building, where a workshop and warehouse were located. Preliminary findings suggest highly flammable shoe-making materials helped the flames spread quickly. Firefighters also said shoe sole materials had been piled in stairwells, making it much harder for crews to reach the flames and carry out rescue work.

Because of the materials and adhesives used inside the factory, the scene was reportedly filled with a pungent smell that caused eye irritation.

State broadcaster CCTV reported that the fire department sent 183 firefighters and 35 vehicles to the scene. Xinhua later reported that more than 500 people took part in the rescue and search operation. Open flames were largely extinguished after about four hours, though thick smoke continued to rise from the site into the evening.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the fire had caused “major casualties” and ordered an all-out rescue effort, a swift investigation and strict accountability for those responsible.

Authorities have detained the factory’s owner and other people in charge of the company, according to Xinhua. The company’s bank accounts were also frozen.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The deadly blaze has once again raised questions about industrial safety in China, where officials have repeatedly ordered businesses to inspect for workplace hazards after a series of fatal accidents.

In May, an explosion at a fireworks plant in Changsha, in central Hunan province, killed at least 37 people. In 2024, a fire at a refrigeration facility under construction killed 39 people in Xinyu, in southeastern Jiangxi province.

China also launched a fire prevention campaign focused on high-rise buildings after a devastating blaze tore through several apartment buildings in Hong Kong in November, killing 168 people.

Official data cited by the Associated Press shows that 18,261 people died in nearly 20,000 workplace accidents across China in 2025, though that figure was down from the year before.