NANNING - Three people died and two are still missing after a sand pump dredger sank off the coast of South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Wednesday night, local authorities said Thursday.

Ten people were aboard the boat, "Hairun 18," when the accident happened at 10:53 pm off the coast of Beihai city, according to the Beihai maritime rescue center.

Five of them were saved at about 1 am on Thursday. Three bodies were found in the morning.

Rescuers are still searching for the two missing.

The cause of the sinking is under investigation.

Typhoon Bebinca has swept across the coastal areas of Beihai since Monday, bringing gales and huge waves.