Factory owner detained over fire accident in East China

Police have detained the owner of a footwear company and other responsible personnel following a factory fire that killed 28 people in Jinjiang, a county-level city in Quanzhou, East China's Fujian province, on Thursday.

In addition, the bank accounts of Fujian Huiteng Shoes Co, located in Jiangtou village, have also been frozen. The village is situated in Chendai town, the core production hub of Jinjiang, widely known as China's "shoe capital".

The blaze broke out in the multi-story factory building at around noon on Thursday. Around 500 firefighters and rescuers rushed to the scene to carry out emergency operations.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

According to China Central Television, the burning materials consisted mainly of shoe components, which are highly flammable and caused the fire to spread rapidly. A large amount of debris piled up in the building's stairwells also severely hindered and slowed rescue efforts.

Local authorities in Fujian set up a leadership task force on Thursday to manage the response, comprising working teams covering on-site rescue, accident investigation, and aftermath management.

Fujian authorities have pledged meticulous aftermath care and a rigorous investigation to hold those responsible accountable in accordance with regulations and discipline, promising to provide a responsible account to the public.