More than 170 ships on Thursday remain stranded in the Three Gorges section of the Yangtze River in Central China's Hubei province after heavy fog engulfed the area on Wednesday, local authorities said.

The fog began to hit the area Wednesday morning, reducing visibility in Nanjinguan Gorge and Shipai County to less than 500 meters. All ships were ordered to take shelter at nearby harbors on Wednesday, the Three Gorges Navigation Bureau said in a statement.

The order was lifted Wednesday afternoon, when the fog began to dissipate. However, the arrival of more ships means it will take time for congestion to clear up on the river, the statement said.

The bureau predicted that more fog will hit the region over the next few days.