Beijing (AFP) – A fire that tore through a shoe factory in eastern China on Thursday killed at least 28 people, state media said, with more than 500 fire and rescue personnel racing against time to extinguish the blaze.
Hours after the fire broke out at the Huiteng Shoes factory around noon (0400 GMT), authorities feared people were still trapped inside the building in Jinjiang city, Fujian province.
President Xi Jinping said the fire resulted in “heavy human losses”, with state news agency Xinhua later citing a preliminary toll of 28 dead.
Footage shared by state television CCTV showed firefighters dousing the facade and interior of a large, multi-storey white building with fire hoses, as thick black smoke billowed out of broken windows.
People could be seen taking refuge near the windows and on the roof of the building, while the blaze raged in the lower floors.
CCTV said 500 firefighters and other emergency personnel were on the scene.
“The cause of the accident should be identified as soon as possible and… those responsible must be strictly held accountable,” Xi said, in remarks carried by Xinhua.
The company owner and several others have been detained, Xinhua reported. Authorities have also frozen the company’s accounts.
…
Xi couldn’t give two shits about the 28 dead.
Only their families care about their deaths.
There are most likely plenty of people nearby that are secretly happy about the new job openings first rebuilding the plant and then 28 shoe making jobs, unless they automate the plant then everyone is up shit creek.
It might be a morbid opinion but in an overcrowded country where you are raised to believe you are worth anything only if you work people are always grasping at any straw they can.
The factory doesn’t exist. This is CIA propaganda. There hasn’t been a fire in China for over 100 years. ;)
