The toll of the fire at the shoe factory in China: at least 28 dead

A devastating fire broke out at the Huiteng shoe factory in the city of Jinjiang, Fujian province, China, resulting in the death of 28 people.

Rescue teams deployed 183 personnel and 35 vehicles to respond to the situation. Images broadcast by state television CCTV showed firefighters battling the flames that engulfed the building, while thick smoke billowed from the structure. Many people were trapped inside the factory, and the official Xinhua agency reported difficulties in accessing them.

This incident comes in the context of a recent campaign by China against fire risks in high-rise buildings, launched after another tragic fire in Hong Kong that resulted in the deaths of 168 people.