(Yicai) July 10 -- Twenty-eight people have died in a fire at a shoe factory in Jinjiang, a manufacturing hub in southeast China.

The blaze broke out at around noon yesterday, Xu Zhihui, director of the Quanzhou Fire and Rescue Bureau, said at a press briefing. The building, a five-story reinforced concrete workshop with a single floor area of 1,300 square meters, contained a large amount of flammable and combustible materials, he said.

By the time emergency teams arrived on the scene, the factory was already engulfed by flames, Xu said.

A total of 213 people were evacuated and rescued, two of whom died later in the hospital, while another 26 who had initially been reported missing were confirmed dead following intensive search-and-rescue efforts, according to reports. As of 12.35 a.m. today, on-site rescue operations had concluded, and efforts are now underway to provide support and comfort to those affected.

At a press conference today, Quanzhou’s Mayor Cai Zhansheng expressed condolences on behalf of the municipal party committee and government to the victims and apologized to the families of the deceased and the wider community.

The company involved in the incident is Huiteng Shoes, Xinhua News Agency reported. The Fujian provincial government has set up an investigation team to determine the cause of the accident and hold those responsible accountable. Legal measures have already been taken against the relevant company executives and other individuals.

Jinjiang is an important shoe manufacturing base, home to well-known sports brands such as Anta, 361°, Xtep, and Erke. Last year, Jinjiang's gross domestic product reached CNY386.1 billion (USD57 billion), ranking in the top three of China's top 100 counties.

Editor: Futura Costaglione