LANZHOU - A monk died after setting himself on fire in Northwest China's Gansu province Thursday afternoon, local authorities said.

The monk from Amchok Monastery set himself ablaze at about 3 p.m. in front of a police station in Amchok Township of Xiahe County in the Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Gannan, sources with the Gansu provincial committee of the Communist Party of China said.

Initial probes identified the man as Tsultrim Gyatso, 43, a Tibetan from Nyimalung Village of the county.

An investigation is under way.