Xi Orders Rescue and Strict Investigation After Jinjiang Shoe Factory Fire

Dragon Media News Desk

Chinese President Xi Jinping has issued important instructions following a fire at a shoe factory in Jinjiang City, under Quanzhou City in east China’s Fujian Province, calling for all-out efforts in search and rescue, treatment of the injured, investigation into the cause of the accident and strict accountability for those responsible.

According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, the fire broke out at around 12 p.m. on Thursday at a shoe factory in Jinjiang. The accident caused major casualties. Following the incident, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made important instructions, taking the incident seriously.

Xi ordered that no effort be spared in searching for and rescuing missing persons, treating the injured, comforting the families of victims and properly handling follow-up work. He stressed that the cause of the accident must be identified as soon as possible and those responsible must be held strictly accountable in accordance with the law.

Xi noted that several serious production safety accidents had occurred in China recently and said all regions and relevant departments must draw deep lessons from them. He called for better coordination between development and security and urged constant vigilance over production safety.

He also emphasized the need to thoroughly identify and rectify various risks and potential causes of accidents, implement production safety measures in a detailed and effective manner, and prevent major and extremely serious accidents from happening again. According to Xi, protecting people’s lives and property is a primary responsibility of authorities at all levels.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang also issued instructions on the accident, calling for full-scale rescue operations, proper follow-up arrangements, prevention of secondary accidents and a swift investigation into the cause of the fire, followed by strict action in accordance with the law.

Li instructed the Office of the State Council Work Safety Commission to further guide and supervise local authorities across the country in identifying production safety risks, strengthening control measures and ensuring that responsibilities are fully implemented.

Following the instructions from Xi and Li, China’s Ministry of Emergency Management sent a joint working team to the scene. Authorities in Fujian Province said efforts were underway to treat the injured, manage the site, carry out rescue operations and strengthen follow-up safety work.

The cause of the fire, the detailed extent of the damage and the process of determining responsibility are still under investigation. Chinese authorities said search and rescue, medical treatment, site management and risk-control work are continuing.

Jinjiang is regarded as one of China’s important footwear and manufacturing hubs. The incident has once again highlighted the need to strengthen fire safety, risk management at production sites, emergency response mechanisms and local administrative supervision in the industrial sector.