Twenty-nine sailors were rescued and an unknown number of others missing after strong wind overturned eight boats off east China's Shandong Province Tuesday, said local authorities.

Strong wind with speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour have been rocking China's eastern coast Tuesday with eight boats capsized between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m., said Xu Zengfu, deputy director of the province's Maritime Safety Bureau.

"We have received reports that two commercial ships and six fishing boats capsized in Yantai, Weihai and Qingdao," said Xu.

Twenty-nine sailors had been rescued as of 3 p.m. and an unknown number of sailors were still missing, he said.

Xu said that strong wind was expected to continue for the next two days and advised ships be sheltered in safe harbors.

Helicopters and rescue ships are still searching for the missing.