NATURAL DISASTER According to the city’s emergency services, the victims “were carried away by the force of the current” of the river
Rescue workers search for survivors after a sudden river flood in Johannesburg, December 4, 2022. — /AP/SIPA
The consequences of the violent thunderstorms from Saturday to 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, announced the report. Sunday evening the city’s emergency services.
The balance sheet thus passed; from new to fourteen dead, with the discovery of five additional bodies, specified; Robert Mulaudzi, spokesman for the city’s emergency services, who was unable in the evening to give a precise number of people still missing.
Rituals of purification
“Last night a group was at religious rituals in the river when a storm hit,” earlier, specifying that there were 33 faithful present on the banks of the small Jukskei river, at the time of this spectacular flood. “When the storm broke, many were standing in the riverbed, conducting rituals, baptisms” or purification rituals. “They have been carried away by the force of the current,” Robert Mulaudzi, specifying that the presiding pastor at these ceremonies had survived.
“Two people were arrested. swept away, their death was confirmed the same evening on the spot,” 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 summer are dwindling. austral
Sudden surges of water are common in this outlying area of Johannesburg, where thunderstorms, almost every night during the summer; austral, are often sudden and violent. “Rivers are free in this country and people practice their religion wherever they live. they want,” Robert Mulaudzi. “But we need to step up our awareness campaigns” to prevent tragedies of this type from happening again.