GUANGZHOU: The most powerful salt tide since last autumn hit the Pearl River in Guangdong province yesterday, a senior local astronomer said.

Li Jianji, director of the Guangdong astronomical society, said that despite its force, the tide should recede on Saturday and, thanks to the preemptive measures taken, the water supply in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region should not be affected.

Salt tides are caused by astronomical events, Li said.