AT LEAST 28 DIE IN MAJOR FACTORY FIRE

BEIJING, JULY 9 /SRNA/ – At least 28 people have been killed in a major fire at a shoe factory in eastern China, the Ministry of Emergency Management said, adding that dozens of firefighters and rescue workers are involved in the operation.

The fire broke out around noon local time at the Huiteng shoe factory in the city of Jinjiang, Fujian Province.

As people remained trapped inside for hours after the blaze erupted, firefighting and rescue teams deployed 183 personnel and 35 vehicles to the scene.

Chinese President Xi Jinping commented on the incident, saying the fire had resulted in heavy loss of life.