The consequences of Saturday's violent storms in Johannesburg are dramatic.
Fourteen people died in the sudden flooding of a river in this South African metropolis, and rescue efforts are continuing to find several missing, the city's emergency services announced on Sunday evening.
The death toll thus rose from nine to fourteen dead, with the discovery of five additional bodies, said Robert Mulaudzi, spokesman for the city's emergency services, who was unable to give a figure in the evening. details of people who remain missing.
Cleansing rituals
“Last night, a group was taking part in religious rituals in the river when a storm fell,” he explained earlier, adding that there were 33 faithful present on the banks of the small Jukskei river at the time of this flood. spectacular.
"When the storm broke, many were standing in the river bed, conducting rituals, baptisms" or purification rituals.
"They were swept away by the force of the current," said Robert Mulaudzi, adding that the pastor presiding over these ceremonies had survived.
“Two people were taken away, their deaths were confirmed the same evening on the spot,” explained the spokesperson.
Rescuers, with the support of firefighters, resumed their efforts on Sunday, identifying twelve other bodies.
But the hope of finding other missing persons "alive" is dwindling.
Very frequent thunderstorms during the austral summer
Sudden rises in water are common in this suburb of Johannesburg, where thunderstorms almost every evening during the southern summer are often sudden and violent.
"Access to rivers is free in this country and people practice their religion wherever they want," said Robert Mulaudzi.
"But we must intensify our awareness campaigns" to prevent tragedies of this type from happening again.
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