TAIYUAN - Five people died on Thursday after they were buried under a pile of waste residue that had collapsed on them in North China's Shanxi province, according to the local government.

The pile collapsed at 9:10 am in Qinwangling village of Luliang city's Jiaokou county in Shanxi, killing two at the scene and injuring three others, the Information Office of the Luliang Municipal Government said in a statement.

All three injured persons died in a nearby hospital despite medical efforts.

The statement said the waste residue belongs to Tianma Energy Company, whose major businesses includes iron and coke production and casting.

The statement did not say whether those who died had been workers at the company.

A team has been set up to investigate the cause of the accident.