FUZHOU - Seven people are dead and another three remain missing after a fire broke out in East China's Fujian province on Monday, according to local authorities.

The fire started early morning Monday in a village in Jianou city, destroying two buildings, before being put out by firefighters three hours later, the local police station said.

Besides the dead and the missing, another villager was injured in the blaze, and has been sent to local hospital.

The rescue team is still searching for the three missing people and identifying the dead.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.