KUALA LUMPUR -- Frist four Chinese tourists who were rescued after their boat sank off Malaysia's Sabah state left for China on Monday, said China's consulate general.

The first four Chinese tourists and their family were sent off early Monday by Consul General Chen Peijie in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital as well as Pang Yuk Ming, assistant minister of tourism, culture and environment of Sabah.

The consulate general said the remaining rescued tourists were in stable condition and would return home soon.

The boat carrying 28 Chinese tourists capsized on Jan. 28 enroute from Kota Kinabalu to Mengalum island, some 50 km to the west. Three of the tourists have been confirmed dead while another five and a crewmember remain missing.

The search and rescue operations covered an area of 2,000 square nautical miles on Sunday. A body was found near the last location of the sunken boat on Friday, but the authorities has yet to confirm whether it was one of the missing.