A shoe factory fire in the eastern Chinese city of Jinjiang, Fujian province, broke out around midday on July 9, trapping people inside and causing what President Xi Jinping described as “heavy human losses,” according to state media. Authorities dispatched 183 firefighters and 35 vehicles to the scene, with rescue teams still working hours after the blaze began. Xi, responding to the incident, called for thorough search and rescue operations and support for the affected families, while also ordering a swift investigation into the cause and strict accountability for those responsible. The emergency management ministry reported the fire was being extinguished and that some individuals remained out of contact. The tragedy comes after prior national campaigns to address fire risks in high-rise buildings.