At least five people were killed and four others were injured in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan’s northwest tribal region of North Waziristan in the wee hours of Monday.

At least five people were killed and four others were injured in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan's northwest tribal region of North Waziristan in the wee hours of Monday, local media reported.

According to the report by local Urdu TV channel Dunya, the strike came at about 1:00 a.m. local time when a U.S. drone targeted a house and a vehicle in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan, one of the seven semi-autonomous tribal areas along Pakistan- Afghanistan border.

The U.S. drone fired four missiles. Residents said the death toll may rise further as the injured were in critical condition. Identities of the killed and injured people are not known yet.

Some media reports said five drones are still hovering over the area, creating panic among the residents.

Monday's drone strike is the 16th of its kind (counted on daily basis) in Pakistan since the beginning of this year. To date, at least 117 people have reportedly been killed in such strikes in 2012.

Pakistan views the U.S. drone strike on its soil as a serious violation of its sovereignty and a contravention of the international law, but the United States insists that it is an effective way to fight against what it called “terrorists.”