Xi calls for all-out efforts to battle Fujian fire

Firefighters worked to reach people trapped in a burning shoe factory in Fujian province on Thursday as authorities reported an unknown number of casualties. President Xi Jinping said the fire at the Huiteng Shoes factory in the city of Jinjiang in Quanzhou resulted in "heavy human losses" and called for all-out efforts in search and rescue operations. The fire broke out at around noon. Footage shared by CCTV showed firefighters dousing the facade and interior of a large, multi-storey white building with fire hoses, as thick black smoke poured out. Several people, apparently trapped by the blaze, could be seen on the rooftop as smoke swirled around them. Preliminary findings indicated the fire started on the ground floor of the factory, a local official told CCTV. According to Xinhua News Agency, Xi made "important instructions" following the blaze, calling for all-out efforts to also identify the cause and hold accountable anyone found responsible. The Ministry of Emergency Management, together with the National Fire and Rescue Administration, dispatched a joint work team to Jinjiang to guide rescue and response efforts. Local fire and rescue teams deployed 183 personnel and 35 vehicles to the scene. (Agencies) Edited by Edmond Fong