A fire at the Huideng Shoe Company’s factory in Jinjiang, Fujian province, China, resulted in 28 deaths on Thursday. The incident prompted Chinese President Xi Jinping to call for urgent search and rescue efforts and a full investigation into the cause, as well as accountability for those responsible. At the time of the fire, 237 workers and two visitors were present; 213 people were rescued, though two later died in the hospital.
The fire began on the first floor of a five-story building, rapidly spreading due to flammable shoe materials. Rescue operations were hampered by materials obstructing stairwells, but over 500 personnel were involved in the response. The factory’s owner and administrators were detained, and the company’s finances were frozen following the incident.
Labor safety in China remains a critical concern, with previous incidents highlighting ongoing risks in various industries. Authorities have been urged to improve safety measures in workplaces to prevent further tragedies.
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