Fatal Highway Collapse in Southern China Claims at Least 48 Lives; Search Operations Intensify

A highway collapse in southern China has claimed 48 lives, with 3 additional unidentified individuals. Search efforts continue as officials investigate the cause of the accident, which sent over 20 cars down a steep slope.

The death toll climbed to 48 as search efforts continued in southern China on Thursday after a highway section collapsed in a mountainous area, sending more than 20 cars down a steep slope.

Officials in the city of Meizhou said three other people were unidentified, pending DNA testing. It wasn't immediately clear if they had died, which would bring the death toll to 51.