Devastating fire at a shoe factory in China: victims and people trapped

A devastating fire occurred at the Huiteng shoe factory in the city of Jinjiang, Fujian province, China.

The fire broke out around noon, and nearly 200 firefighters and response teams were mobilized to extinguish the flames and rescue people trapped in the building. The Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management confirmed the existence of casualties but did not provide a clear toll, raising concerns about significant loss of life.

President Xi Jinping stated that the fire caused "heavy losses of human life," without specifying further details. Images broadcast by state television showed firefighters battling the flames and thick smoke billowing from the building. Authorities emphasized the importance of investigating the causes of the fire and implementing preventive measures to avoid such tragedies in the future.

This situation comes against the backdrop of a recent campaign by China against fire risks in high-rise buildings, launched after a similar incident in Hong Kong.