TAIYUAN - A cement factory building under construction collapsed Tuesday night in the northern province of Shanxi, leaving two dead and five others injured, local authorities said Wednesday.

The accident occurred at about 8:30 pm in the Xingyuan Cement Plant in Xiangfen county, sources with the fire brigade in Linfen city, which administers the county, said.

When the building collapsed, seven construction workers were atop the building. They fell and were trapped under a mass of iron bars, scaffolds and wood boards.

By 3:30 am, rescuers had pulled out five workers from the debris, and they were sent to a nearby hospital.

About three hours later, rescuers retrieved another two workers, who were pronounced dead at the scene, rescuers said.

An investigation into the accident is under way.