South African Emergency Services have confirmed the recovery of nine lifeless bodies of parishioners drowned in a flash flood during a baptismal ceremony in the Jukskei River.
At least eight people are still missing, emergency spokesman Robert Mulaudzi confirmed.
According to Mulaudzi, at least 33 parishioners had gathered on the banks of the river near Bramley Park, near Johannesburg, when a torrential rain suddenly caused the waters to overflow.
This incident is not an isolated case. In June, four other people died in Limpopo province for the same reason, prompting the South African authorities to issue a special precautionary alert for such ceremonies.
