A fire truck works after a fire broke out at a shoe factory in Jiangtou Village, Chendai Township of Jinjiang City, southeast China's Fujian Province, on July 9, 2026. Twenty-eight people have been killed following a fire at a shoe factory in Jinjiang City on Thursday, local authorities said. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi)

Firefighters work after a fire broke out at a shoe factory in Jiangtou Village, Chendai Township of Jinjiang City, southeast China's Fujian Province, on July 9, 2026. Twenty-eight people have been killed following a fire at a shoe factory in Jinjiang City on Thursday, local authorities said. (Xinhua/Wang Cheng)

A fire truck is pictured after a fire broke out at a shoe factory in Jiangtou Village, Chendai Township of Jinjiang City, southeast China's Fujian Province, on July 9, 2026. Twenty-eight people have been killed following a fire at a shoe factory in Jinjiang City on Thursday, local authorities said. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi)

Ambulances are on standby after a fire broke out at a shoe factory in Jiangtou Village, Chendai Township of Jinjiang City, southeast China's Fujian Province, on July 9, 2026. Twenty-eight people have been killed following a fire at a shoe factory in Jinjiang City on Thursday, local authorities said. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi)

Twenty-eight people have been killed following a fire at a shoe factory in Jinjiang City, east China's Fujian Province, on Thursday, local authorities said.

The blaze broke out at the factory of Huiteng Shoes Co., Ltd. in Jiangtou Village, Chendai Township, at 12:04 p.m., said the fire and rescue department of Quanzhou City, which administers Jinjiang. Over 500 firefighters joined the rescue operation.

At the time of the fire, 237 factory workers and two external delivery personnel were at the scene.

A total of 213 people were evacuated, but two of them died after treatment failed at the hospital. Twenty-six missing persons were confirmed dead.

Police have detained the company's owner and several others suspected of bearing responsibility for the fire. Authorities have also frozen the company's accounts.

The Fujian provincial authorities have set up a leading group to handle the fire, with five subordinate working groups responsible for on-site rescue, accident investigation and aftermath management.

Authorities have also ordered an investigation to determine the nature of the accident and the responsibilities involved. Those found responsible will resolutely be held accountable and severely punished.