HOHHOT - Five people have died and another two are missing after a fire broke out on Sunday in a passageway in a mine in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, local authorities said on Monday.

The fire happened at around 1 pm at Rongda Mining Limited Liability Company, in Xin Barag Right Banner of Hulun Buir city, when seven miners were working underground, the regional work safety bureau said.

Search teams are looking for the two missing people. The cause of the fire is under investigation.