ZHENGZHOU -- Seven people died and five remain missing after an accident at an aluminum plant in Central China's Henan province, according to the company that owns the plant.

Around 4:50 p.m., a piece of falling equipment hit employees of the engineering and construction company as they were dismantling the aluminum plant in the provincial capital of Zhengzhou city, according to the Henan branch of the Aluminum Corporation of China.

Eight others, two of whom were seriously wounded, have been sent to hospital.

The police said 23 people were working at the site when the accident occurred, three escaped without injury.

A person has been detained by the police.

The engineering and construction company is owned by the Henan branch of the Aluminum Corporation of China.