Major casualties at hoe factory in China. Photo: Munna2000 / Shutterstock.com Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered authorities to carry out full search and rescue operations following a deadly fire at a shoe factory in eastern China's Jinjiang, which resulted in major casualties.
According to Chinese state media, the fire broke out at around 12:00 p.m. local time on Thursday at a shoe manufacturing facility in Jinjiang, a county-level city under the administration of Quanzhou.
In instructions issued after the incident, Xi called for every effort to rescue those affected, treat the injured, determine the cause of the fire, and ensure those responsible are held strictly accountable.
Authorities have not yet released an official death toll or the number of people injured. Emergency responders remain at the scene as rescue and recovery operations continue.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Officials are expected to release additional details as more information becomes available.