Strong rains will continue for their seventh day in flood-ravaged southern China's island province of Hainan Thursday, said the National Meteorological Center (NMC) Wednesday.

Not since 1961 had rains persisted for so many days in autumn, said the NMC.

A tropical cyclone was moving at 50.4 km per hour towards the northwest at 6:00 a.m. Wednesday after forming over the South China Sea Tuesday.

The tropical cyclone is expected to bring more rain to Hainan, as well as Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, said the NMC in a statement on its website.

Parts of the island had received about 3,24.7 millimeters of rain on average, the third highest amount since 1961, according to the NMC.

Water Resources Minister Chen Lei urged Wednesday more efforts be made to battle the flooding and ensure the safety of residents.

At least two people were missing and nearly 30,000 evacuated, the Hainan provincial flood control and drought relief office said in a statement Tuesday.