The fire was reported to have broken out at the factory of Huiteng Shoes Co., Ltd. in Jiangtou Village, Chendai Township, at noon on Thursday, according to local authorities.
State media also reported that nearly 240 people were at the factory when the fire broke out.
Local authorities said a total of 213 people were evacuated, but two of them died despite being treated in hospital, whilst 26 previously missing persons were confirmed dead.
The city of Jinjiang in Fujian province has reportedly earned a reputation as China’s “shoe capital”, accounting for an estimated 20% of global sports shoe production.
Initial reports shared with the BBC suggest the fire may have started on the factory’s ground floor, where flammable materials were stored.
The UK news site said that authorities have reportedly detained several people who work for the factory’s owners, and that the firm’s bank account has been frozen.
President Xi Jinping told the BBC the blaze had caused “major casualties,” adding that those responsible must be held “strictly accountable”.
Xi said Chinese officials must draw “profound lessons” from “several major industrial safety accidents” in the country this year and stated that “rigorous and effective safety measures” must be implemented.
“Fire kills 28 workers in China shoe factory” was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand.