• At least 28 people have been confirmed dead following a fire at a shoe factory in Jinjiang, China.
• The fire began around noon, with reports of many individuals still trapped inside the building.
• President Xi Jinping has called for an urgent investigation and accountability for those responsible.
• Emergency teams have deployed over 180 personnel and multiple vehicles to aid in the rescue efforts.
• Preliminary investigations suggest the fire started on the ground floor where highly flammable materials were stored.

A devastating fire at the Huiteng Shoes factory in Jinjiang, Fujian province, has resulted in at least 28 confirmed deaths, with many still trapped inside, according to reports from Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post. The fire ignited shortly after noon, leading to extensive efforts by emergency services to combat the blaze and search for survivors.

President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for "all-out" rescue efforts and called for a swift investigation into the cause of the fire. "The cause of the accident should be identified as soon as possible and … those responsible must be strictly held accountable," he stated, as noted by BBC and Al Jazeera.

Firefighters faced hazardous conditions as they attempted to rescue individuals trapped on the factory's rooftops. Approximately 183 firefighters and 35 emergency vehicles were dispatched to the scene to manage the situation, as detailed by India Times and Channel News Asia.

The fire reportedly began on the ground floor of the factory, which housed highly flammable materials used in shoe production, contributing to the rapid spread of flames. Initial assessments noted that the fumes from these materials were severely irritating, leading to dangerous conditions for rescuers and survivors alike, according to South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera.