At least three alleged kidnappers have been killed in a shootout with police during an operation to rescue an American pastor in Gqeberha.

The 45-year-old US citizen was kidnapped and held at a so-called safe house in Kwa-Magxaki this week.

The Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba says when officers approached the house, suspects inside a vehicle tried to flee and opened fire on the team.

The officers responded, which led to an intense shootout in which three unidentified suspects sustained fatal blows.

Fumba says the victim was found inside the same vehicle and was miraculously unharmed.