HANGZHOU, Jan. 14 -- A factory fire in east China's Zhejiang Province on Tuesday left at least 16 people dead, local government said.

The fire broke out at 2:52 p.m. in a shoe factory in the northern part of Wenling City and burned an area of more than 800 square meters, local authorities said.

Twenty-nine fire engines and nearly 100 firefighters attended rescue operation. The fire was put out at 5:40 p.m. and more than 20 people were rescued as of 7 p.m..

Firefighters are still searching for survivors.

An initial investigation into the cause of the fire is under way.