The number of halted vessels increased from 550 on Wednesday to 590 on Thursday, as heavy fog lingered across the Three Gorges region in central China's Hubei province, according to the Three Gorges Navigation Authority.

Shipping service was suspended for 10 hours as fog limited visibility to less than 500 meters, halting water traffic from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., said an official with the authority.

Heavy fog has blanketed the Three Gorges area 14 times since the beginning of April, halting shipping service for a maximum of 10 hours each time, the official said.

A forecast for more fog has been issued by the weather observatory, and the Three Gorges Navigation Authority suggested passenger vessels avoid the waterway for the next few days.