Five people were killed by toxic gas after a blasting for gold mining in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Friday, the region's work safety supervision bureau said Saturday citing preliminary probe result.

The gold mine was operated by Linjin Mining Co. Ltd. in Chifeng City's Linxi County, the bureau said.

The cause of the accident is under further investigation, it said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2009)