28 killed in factory blaze in the heart of Chinese shoe manufacturing hub

Twenty-eight people died following a massive fire in a shoe factory in China"s eastern Fujian province, on Thursday, state news agency Xinhua wrote.

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered an all-out effort to rescue and treat the victims, and investigate, Report informs via South China Morning Post.

The blaze was reported at 12.04pm (GMT +8) at the Huiteng Shoes factory on Kaituo Road East in the village of Jiangtou in Chendai township, Jinjiang.

Fire authorities in the city of Quanzhou sent emergency crews, including 183 firefighters and 35 fire trucks, to the scene, state broadcaster CCTV reported. By late Thursday afternoon, local authorities said the fire had been brought under control, according to CCTV.