Thirty-four people are dead and 21 injured after a shoe factory fire in Putian City, east China's Fujian Province, on Sunday night.

The fire broke out at 9:50 PM at a workshop making shoe uppers in Hushi Township, Xiuyu District, but was extinguished one hour later.

Sources from Xiuyu District Government said the factory was operating without a license.

All the injured are being treated in hospital.

The local safety and law enforcement officials have launched an investigation into the blaze.

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2007)