Fire at a Chinese shoe factory claims 28 lives.
The fire broke out around noon (0400 GMT) at the Huiteng Shoes factory in Jinjiang, located in China's Fujian province.
Several hours after the incident began, officials state that they feared a number of workers were still trapped inside the premises.
President Xi Jinping describes the disaster as one that had caused "heavy human losses," while state-run Xinhua news agency later reported a preliminary death toll of 28.
Footage aired by state broadcaster CCTV showed firefighters using high-pressure hoses to battle the flames as thick black smoke billowed from the multi-storey factory building. Some people were seen gathered on the roof and near windows, seeking safety as the lower levels remained engulfed in fire.
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According to China's Ministry of Emergency Management, 183 firefighters and rescue personnel, along with 35 emergency vehicles, had been deployed to the scene
Jinjiang fire chief Du Zhenzhou says that rescue operations were slowed because staircases and emergency exits had been blocked by stored shoe materials.
He adds that adhesives and other combustible supplies used in shoe production helped intensify the blaze.
Later images from the scene showed smoke continuing to pour from broken windows of the charred factory.
Xi proceeded to order a prompt investigation into the cause of the fire and said anyone found responsible would be held accountable.
The emergency management ministry state that crews remained engaged in extinguishing the blaze, searching for survivors and treating the injured. State media reported that several people were still unaccounted for.
Highlighting a number of deadly industrial accidents reported across China this year, Xi urged authorities nationwide to strengthen workplace safety measures and ensure stricter enforcement to prevent similar tragedies.
