Highway disaster toll jumps to 48

The death toll from a highway collapse in Guangdong has jumped to 48 as adverse conditions complicated rescue efforts.

Rains caused a stretch of road running from Meizhou city toward Dabu county to cave in around 2.10 am on Wednesday, and over 20 vehicles careened into the 18-meter-long gash down slope.

In announcing the 48 deaths, Meizhou's Communist Party secretary Ma Zhengyong said "there are also three people whose DNA is undergoing checks." One of the 30 injured is said to be in a severe condition.

State media called the collapse a "natural geological disaster" caused by "persistent heavy rain."

President Xi Jinping ordered officials to go all out in rescue work and eliminate danger, CCTV said.

An official said adverse weather, risks of secondary disasters and the large number of trapped, burned and buried vehicles were complicating rescue efforts.