TAIYUAN - Eight people died in a landslide early Monday morning in North China's Shanxi province, government authorities said.

The landslide happened around 3 am in Chagou village, Lingquan township of Shilou county in the city of Luliang, burying three cave-houses and two ordinary houses, according to a spokesman with the city government.

Rescuers pulled eight villagers from the debris. The victims died despite medical efforts, the spokesman said.

Rescue work had finished as of 9:30 am.

The cause of the landslide is under investigation.