Fire at a Shoe Factory Kills 28 in One of China’s Deadliest Blazes in Recent Years

CHINA – A fire broke out at a shoe factory in a Southeastern Chinese province on Thursday, killing 28 people.

China’s president demanded “an all-out search and rescue effort,” urging a swift investigation of the incident and “strictly holding those responsible accountable.”

There were 237 factory workers and two visitors in the building, authorities pulled out 213 people, two of whom were pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.

Another 26 missing people were later confirmed dead.

The factory’s owner and others in charge have been taken into custody and the company’s accounts have been frozen.