BEIJING (AP) 鈥� A fire broke out at a shoe factory in the eastern Chinese province of Fujian on Thursday, killing 28 people, the official Xinhua 91欧美激情 Agency said.
Chinese President demanded 鈥渁n all-out search and rescue effort,” urging a swift investigation of the incident and 鈥渟trictly hold those responsible accountable.鈥�
The blaze started at a factory in Huiteng shoe company in the city of Jinjiang, the city鈥檚 fire department said in a statement. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
There were 237 factory workers and two visitors in the building when the fire broke out. Authorities evacuated or rescued 213 people. Of the 28 people who died, two were pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Xinhua said the factory鈥檚 owner and others in charge have been arrested and the company鈥檚 accounts have been frozen.
Video by CCTV shows the facade of a building of several floors charred black and covered in white smoke. Earlier footage shows fires were burning on multiple floors and the building shrouded in thick, black smoke.
Jinjiang, the city where the fire happened is known as China鈥檚 shoe capital.
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