Military Spokesman Mohamed Samir on Sunday said the Egyptian navy rescued all passengers and crew aboard the cargo ship that sank off the Red Sea.

In a statement, the spokesman said that the navy received distress signals from Taba cargo ship at 5:05 am.

The spokesman added that the ship, that sank 17 nautical off Safaga port, was carrying 37 passengers.

Orders were immediately issued to dispatch rescue units and take necessary action to save all passengers and crew, the spokesman said.

A navy's rescue ship arrived at the scene at 5:35 am, recovered passengers and crew and provided them with first aid, until they reached the Safaga port where an ambulance was waiting to carry the injured to hospital, the spokesman added.

A cargo ship sunk on Sunday in Egypt's Red Sea, shortly after departing Safaga Port on its way to Saudi Arabia, a Red Sea Ports spokesman told MENA earlier on the day.