At least 28 people were killed after a fire tore through a shoe factory in eastern China on Thursday.

Axar.az reports, citing Chinese media, that the blaze broke out around noon at the Huiteng Shoes factory in Jinjiang, Fujian Province. Authorities initially feared that some people remained trapped inside the building.

Chinese President Xi Jinping described the incident as causing "heavy human losses" and called for intensified search and rescue efforts. He also ordered authorities to determine the cause of the fire as quickly as possible and hold those responsible accountable.

Firefighters battled the blaze as thick black smoke poured from the multi-story building. Some people sought refuge near windows and on the roof while the fire spread through the lower floors.

According to China's Ministry of Emergency Management, 183 firefighters and rescuers, along with 35 emergency vehicles, were deployed to the scene.

Emergency crews continued efforts to extinguish the fire, search for trapped survivors, and treat the injured. Authorities said some people remained trapped and out of contact.