Deadly factory fire in China kills 28, one of the nation's deadliest blazes in recent years

A devastating fire at a shoe factory in Jinjiang city, Fujian province, southeastern China, has resulted in the deaths of 28 people. The blaze, which occurred on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the Huiteng shoe company, is considered one of the deadliest industrial fires in the country in recent years.

Authorities reported that 237 factory workers and two visitors were inside the five-story concrete building when the fire erupted. While 213 individuals were successfully evacuated, two of them later died in the hospital, and the remaining 26 missing persons were subsequently confirmed deceased, bringing the total fatalities to 28. The rapid spread of the fire was attributed to highly flammable shoe components and raw materials stored within the factory, with materials piled in stairwells also hindering rescue efforts. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for comprehensive search and rescue operations and a thorough investigation into the incident, with the factory owner and other responsible individuals taken into custody.