A massive fire broke out at the Huiteng Footwear factory in Jinjiang, destroying parts of the building and trapping many workers on the roof. The blaze, caused by flammable materials stored on the ground floor, left at least 28 people dead, with additional injuries still unreported. President Xi Jinping condemned the tragedy, demanding strict accountability of those responsible, while authorities detained factory staff and froze the firm’s bank account. Jinjiang, known as China’s "shoe capital" and producing about 20% of world sports shoes, now faces intense scrutiny over safety standards and its impact on the global supply chain. The incident echoes the 2019 Hong Kong building fire, underscoring growing concerns around fire safety in high‑rise factories across Asia.
A blaze ripped through the Huiteng Footwear factory in Jinjiang, Fujian, killing at least 28 employees by 15:04 BST, 9 July 2026.
The fire, sparked by flammable storage on the ground floor, erupted at noon local time, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky and trapping people on the roof.
Hundreds of rescuers rushed to the scene and more than 200 workers were evacuated, though many injuries remain unreported.
President Xi condemned the tragedy, calling for strict accountability. Authorities detained factory staff and froze the firm’s bank account.
Jinjiang, dubbed China’s "shoe capital" and responsible for about 20% of global sports shoe production, now faces heightened safety scrutiny after this shockingly large loss of life.
