A massive fire swept through a multi-storey shoe factory in southeastern China's Fujian Province on Thursday, leaving an unspecified number of casualties as firefighters raced to rescue workers trapped inside the burning building.

The blaze erupted shortly after noon in the city of Jinjiang, one of China's largest footwear manufacturing hubs, prompting a large-scale emergency response. State broadcaster CCTV reported that several workers became stranded on the factory's rooftop as flames rapidly spread through the building.

Videos released by state media showed towering flames consuming the factory while thick black smoke billowed hundreds of meters into the sky. Rescue crews were seen using aerial ladders and specialized equipment to reach those trapped above the fire.

Chinese President Xi Jinping issued an emergency directive calling for an "all-out rescue effort" and said the incident had caused "significant casualties," signaling that the disaster may have resulted in substantial loss of life. He also urged authorities to provide the best possible medical treatment for the injured and to determine the cause of the fire as quickly as possible.

According to local firefighting authorities, approximately 183 firefighters and 35 emergency vehicles were deployed to the scene. By late afternoon, crews had largely brought the flames under control, although operations continued to extinguish remaining hotspots and search the damaged structure for survivors.

Officials said preliminary investigations indicate the fire originated on the ground floor before spreading rapidly through the building.

Authorities noted that the factory contained large quantities of highly flammable materials commonly used in footwear production, including adhesives, synthetic fabrics, rubber compounds, and packaging materials, which accelerated the spread of the blaze.

Emergency responders also reported that thick smoke and chemical fumes created hazardous conditions inside the factory, hampering rescue operations and causing severe eye and respiratory irritation.

While officials have not yet released an official death toll or the number of injured, hospitals in the area have activated emergency response protocols to receive casualties, and local authorities have established temporary assistance centers for workers and their families.

The State Council's Work Safety Committee has dispatched an investigation team to Fujian to oversee rescue efforts and determine whether violations of workplace safety regulations contributed to the disaster. Authorities have pledged a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the fire and any potential safety lapses.

Jinjiang, often referred to as China's "shoe capital," is home to thousands of footwear and apparel manufacturers and accounts for roughly 20% of global shoe production. The city produced more than 1.2 billion pairs of shoes in 2024, making it one of the world's most important manufacturing centers for the footwear industry.

The latest incident has renewed attention on industrial safety in China, where factory fires and workplace accidents involving flammable materials continue to pose significant challenges despite repeated government campaigns aimed at strengthening safety standards and enforcement. (ILKHA)