Five workers died of poisonous gas in a shaft in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, a government spokesman confirmed Saturday.

The accident happened at about 5 pm Friday at a mine, which belonged to Shenhua Group Baotou Mining Co., Ltd., in Erdos City, said a spokesman for the regional work safety bureau.

The unidentified gas poisoned five people, one of whom died Friday and the other four died Saturday in hospital.

No further details are available.

Investigation into the accident is underway.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2009)