Five workers were confirmed dead after they were buried in a pit at an east China construction site on Saturday, local authorities said.

The accident happened at around 9 am in Songtuan Township of Huaibei City, Anhui Province. The workers were digging a pit five meters deep, when the earth around suddenly buried them. They were confirmed dead after rescuers pulled their bodies out by 8 pm, according to the Huaibei government.

Further investigation is under way.