The accident occurred in Jinjiang, Fujian province, an area that concentrates thousands of companies dedicated to the manufacture of footwear and that produces more than 1 billion pairs of sports shoes a year
SANTO DOMINGO – A fire at a shoe factory in eastern China has left at least 28 people dead and has opened an investigation into the safety conditions of an industry that represents one of the country's main manufacturing centers.
The fire occurred this Thursday at the facilities of Fujian Huiteng Shoes Co. Ltd., located in Jiangtou Village, Chendai Township, Jinjiang City, Fujian Province, according to information released by the Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
According to the official report, 237 company employees and two external delivery drivers were at the site at the time of the fire. A total of 213 people were evacuated, while 28 died, including two who later died in a hospital and 26 others who were found dead after being reported missing.
A fire in the heart of the Chinese footwear industry
Jinjiang, specifically the municipality of Chendai, is considered one of the largest athletic footwear clusters in the country. According to data cited by El País, this region is home to more than 7,000 companies linked to the sector and their suppliers, with an annual production exceeding 1 billion pairs of athletic shoes.
This industrial hub has given rise to some of China's leading sports footwear brands, including Anta and Xtep, making the area a strategic point within the global production chain.
The magnitude of the accident has generated attention precisely because it occurred in a region where thousands of workers participate daily in manufacturing processes that supply national and international markets.
The flames and the rescue operation
Images broadcast by Chinese state television CCTV showed large plumes of black smoke billowing from the multi-story structure, as emergency crews worked to control the flames.
According to Euronews, firefighters used hoses to work on both the facade and the interior of the building, while concerns remained about possible people trapped inside the facility.
The rescue operation mobilized hundreds of personnel. Xinhua reported that more than 500 firefighters participated in the efforts deployed after the fire, while other reports indicated the presence of specialized teams sent to coordinate the emergency response.
Investigation aims to determine responsibilities
Although authorities have not yet officially established the cause of the fire, initial assessments suggest that the characteristics of the stored materials may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
According to information gathered by El País, firefighters preliminarily located the origin of the fire in a workshop on the ground floor, while they investigate whether there were any failures related to the safety conditions of the building.
The Chinese authorities cited announced the opening of an investigation to determine the circumstances of the accident and establish responsibilities.
Xinhua reported that the company owner and several people suspected of being responsible for the accident were arrested, and that the company's accounts were frozen as part of the process.
He demands that the matter be clarified
The severity of the fire led to the intervention of the highest authorities in the country.
President Xi Jinping called for strengthened rescue efforts, assistance for those affected, and an accelerated investigation to determine the causes of the accident, the Associated Press (AP).
The president also demanded that those responsible face consequences according to the law, in a response that reflects the official concern for safety in industrial facilities.
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