Five people were killed after a residential building collapsed in central China's Hunan Province on Saturday, local officials said on Sunday morning. 

Twelve people were trapped in the accident in Rucheng County, Chenzhou City, at around 12:40 p.m, seven of which were pulled from the rubble and are being treated at local hospitals. 

Rescuers said the self-built building has 27 residents, but 15 of them were not inside when the accident happened. 

An investigation into the cause of the collapse has been launched.