A devastating fire broke out around noon on July 9, 2026, at the Huiteng Shoes factory in Jinjiang city, Fujian province, eastern China, killing at least 28 people, according to state media reports.

Footage from state television CCTV showed firefighters battling the blaze at the large, multi-story white building, with thick black smoke pouring out as some people took refuge near windows and on the roof. The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched 183 personnel and 35 vehicles to the scene to extinguish the fire, search for trapped survivors, and treat the injured.

President Xi Jinping described the incident as causing "heavy human losses" and called for intensified search and rescue efforts. He also emphasized that "the cause of the accident should be identified as soon as possible and...those responsible must be strictly held accountable," according to state news agency Xinhua.

This tragedy follows recent deadly fires in China, including a blaze in November 2025 that engulfed several tower blocks in Hong Kong, killing 168 people, and a fire a month later in Guangdong province that killed 12.

Sources