A ship capsize in the Gulf of Suez has left at least four people dead with another four still missing, authorities in Egypt said on Wednesday.

This was confirmed in reports citing the vessel operator's Saudi Arabian owner, ADES Holding Company, although according to them only three were believed to be missing.

Search and rescue teams recover 4 bodies

AP news agency cited Egypt's Red Sea province governor Amr Hanafy as saying that there were 30 workers on board the vessel when it capsized.

Hanafy said rescue teams recovered the bodies of four people but also managed to pluck 22 people to safety, who were then taken to hospital.

Vessels from Egypt's navy assisted in search and rescue efforts.

The circumstances surrounding the capsize remain unclear, but local media reported it was being tugged for excavations in another area when it overturned.

Egypt's petroleum ministry on Tuesday said oil and gas producer Offshore Shukheir Oil Co (OSOCO) reported the incident as occurring near Egypt's Gabal El-Zeit area along the Red Sea.

Maritime traffic not impacted

The Suez Canal Authoritiy said in a statement that the incident involved the Admarine 12 oil-drilling ship and took place 130 nautical miles from the southern entrance of the Suez Canal.

The authority said that navigation in the important shipping route had not been impacted.

ADES said that three of its personnel and one contractor were killed, and rescuers were searching for the remaining three, ADES said.

"The company is working closely with local authorities and emergency services, with the safety and well-being of all personnel remaining its highest priority. A full and thorough investigation into the incident will be conducted," ADES said.

Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez