XI'AN, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Five people died and seven were injured after a bridge girder erection machine collapsed in northwest China's Shaanxi Province on Thursday afternoon.

The accident happened around 2:25 p.m. at the No. 2 Hanjiang River Bridge, which is under construction, in Mianxian County of Hanzhong City, the local government said.

Three people were killed on the spot. Two others died on the way to hospital. Seven others are being treated in hospital.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.