Major Industrial Fire in China: At Least 28 Dead

A fire at a factory in Jinjiang, a major shoe production center in China's Fujian province, has killed at least 28 people. The fire broke out at a multi-story shoe factory in the afternoon and quickly spread throughout the building. Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered all-out efforts to rescue those trapped and to investigate the cause of the fire. Some workers were trapped on the roof and firefighters were working to rescue them. Local fire authorities said that after hours of fighting the blaze, the open flames had been largely brought under control. A total of 183 firefighters and rescue personnel, along with 35 vehicles, were dispatched to the scene. Preliminary investigations suggested that the fire started on the ground floor of the factory. Authorities said that flammable materials and adhesives used in shoe production contributed to the fire spreading quickly throughout the building. State broadcaster CCTV reported that the heavy smoke and chemical fumes from the fire caused eye irritation in the area.