Rescuers on Thursday saved 24 tourists who had been trapped in the South China Sea for four days, Guangzhou Daily reported.

The tourists had rented a boat and sailed to Chenhang Island in the South China Sea. But the boat was unable to get close to the island because of high waves and strong winds, and the tourists were trapped on the boat in waters off the island.

Hainan provincial police sent a police boat to them on Wednesday, but the boat also got trapped there because of huge gales.

After receiving the call for help on Thursday, the Nanhai Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Transport sent Nanhaijiu 115, a rescue ship on duty in China’s southernmost city of Sansha in the South China Sea.

The tourists are on the way back and are expected to arrive at Hainan province on Friday, the report said.