Deadly blaze engulfs major shoe factory in Jinjiang

The fire broke out at noon in Fujian province, a region globally recognized as China's footwear manufacturing capital. CCTV footage captured thick black smoke billowing from the structure as trapped individuals awaited help on the roof. By late afternoon, 183 firefighters and 35 vehicles had contained the open flames, though the site remained hazardous due to pungent chemical fumes from stored adhesives and synthetic materials.

Preliminary investigations suggest the blaze originated on the ground floor, where highly combustible supplies allowed the fire to spread with extreme speed. Jinjiang, which produced over 1.2 billion pairs of shoes in 2024, now faces a major industrial tragedy. Authorities continue to search the charred remains of the facility, which accounts for a significant portion of the city's massive global output.