A fire in an apartment building near France's national stadium left at least five people dead and 11 injured.

The cause of the Monday night blaze in the town of Saint-Denis is being investigated, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in a statement Tuesday.

Fire service spokesman Yvon Bot said the blaze was in a stairwell in the building, and warned that it would take some time to clear it out and assess the overall damage.

It occurred days before the opening of the European Championship soccer tournament, a monthlong event around France that kicks off with a match Friday at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.