BEIJING -- Officials are examining a fire at a shoe factory in southeastern China's Fujian province that claimed 28 lives and renewed attention on worker safety shortcomings.

The state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Friday that rescuers had concluded their search while probes continued into the cause of the Thursday blaze that destroyed the Fujian Huiteng factory in Jinjiang, a key center for sports shoe production.

Product listings on sales and import sites indicate Fujian Huiteng produces footwear for both domestic and international labels.

Local footage captured individuals stranded on the roof of the five-story structure amid dense black smoke, with fire hoses falling short of upper-floor flames visible through windows. Xinhua noted that the owner and managers were detained and company accounts were frozen.

At the time the fire began, 237 workers and two visitors were inside. Of the 213 people evacuated, two later died in hospitals. Another 26 individuals initially unaccounted for were confirmed dead, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Workplace safety remains an enduring issue across China. In May an explosion at a fireworks facility in Changsha, Hunan province, killed at least 37. In 2024 a blaze at a refrigeration plant under construction in Xinyu, Jiangxi province, claimed 39 lives.

Authorities have issued repeated directives for companies to identify hazards. Government figures show 18,261 deaths from nearly 20,000 workplace incidents nationwide in 2025, a decline from prior levels.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a rapid inquiry and pledged that those responsible would face strict accountability.

Jinjiang hosts thousands of shoe factories and is known as China's shoe capital, producing roughly one-fifth of global athletic footwear, exceeding one billion pairs annually, per state media and industry data.

The region's shift from modest workshops to an export powerhouse, often cited by Xi as the Jinjiang Experience, exemplifies China's rise as a manufacturing leader.

CCTV reported the fire originated on the first floor of the concrete building, where a workshop and warehouse were situated.

A local fire official told the broadcaster that stacked shoe sole materials in stairwells blocked access, and the highly flammable stock complicated efforts. CCTV added that 183 responders and 35 vehicles were deployed, with flames controlled after roughly four hours. Xinhua later stated more than 500 personnel took part in rescue operations.