"Intensive efforts are underway in search for the missing," the statement said, Xinhua reported.

The control center in the Red Sea province received a distress signal from the boat named "Sea Story" around 5:30 a.m. local time (0330 GMT) on Monday from a member of the boat crew, it said.

The boat that was on a diving trip left Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Nov. 24 and was scheduled to return to Hurghada Marina on Nov. 29, the statement added.