THE death toll climbed to at least 48 today as search efforts continued in south-eastern China 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 was not immediately clear if they had died, which would bring the death toll to 51. Another 30 people had non-life-threatening injuries.