HAIKOU - Passenger ferry service in South China's Qiongzhou Strait, which links the island province of Hainan and the mainland, has been halted due to thick fog since early Tuesday morning, a ferry service manager said.

The suspension was issued at 5:30 am after the strait reported visibility less than 500 meters due to misty weather, said Wu Qiang, a ferry service manager at the port of Haikou.

At least 500 passengers and 200 vehicles have been left waiting at the port for ferry transport, Wu said, and there's no word yet on when traffic could resume.