At least 28 people died in a fire at a shoe factory in eastern China on Thursday.
China’s emergency management ministry announced that about 200 firefighters and rescue workers were dispatched to a shoe factory in Fujian province on Thursday.
President Xi Jinping has called for a swift investigation, a “thorough search and rescue effort” and “to strictly hold those responsible accountable.”
Dozens of fire engines were seen dumping water on the burnt multi-storey factory as smoke continued to billow from the site.
“At the same time, the causes of the fire should be investigated, lessons should be learned and effective measures should be taken to prevent recurrence of such accidents,” the ministry said in a statement.
deadly fire shower
In November, Beijing launched a renewed campaign to bring high-rise buildings and factories up to fire code after a fire at several tower blocks in Hong Kong killed 168 people.
A month later, 12 people died in a residential building in Guangdong province.
Edited by: Zack Crellin