MANILA, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Three people, including a three-year-old boy, have died after a boat accident in Camarines Sur province, south of Manila, authorities said on Monday.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Armand Balilo said a motorized boat carrying 12 people sank around 7 p.m. local time on Sunday. The boat was sailing when the sea was rough, he said.

Balilo said six others have been rescued but three others are still missing. The bodies of the three have already been recovered, he added.

"They were coming from a party," Balilo said, referring to the nine adults and three children aboard the boat.

Balilo said they are checking reports that some of the passengers were unruly causing the boat to capsize. "Some of them were drunk, and they came from a party," he said.

The authorities are also checking if bad weather also caused the accident.

Typhoon Maria was approaching the Philippines and threatening to bring heavy rains to the country since Sunday.

"The sea was rough but we don't know if it was a factor or if it was due to the unruliness of the passengers. We are having it checked. Our people are on the rescue mode," Balilo said.?