Factory fire in China's Fujian province kills at least 28
What's new: More than 200 people were evacuated from the shoe plant in Jinjiang as rescuers searched for others still missing.
A fire ripped through the Huiteng Shoes factory in Jinjiang, Fujian province, on Thursday, killing at least 28 people, Chinese state media reported. The blaze broke out around noon at the multi-story plant, sending thick black smoke through the building as some people took refuge on the roof and near windows. State media said more than 200 people were evacuated. The Ministry of Emergency Management sent 183 firefighters and rescue workers with 35 vehicles to the scene. Initial reports cited by BBC said the fire may have started on the ground floor, where flammable materials were stored. President Xi Jinping called for the cause to be identified quickly and for those responsible to be held accountable.