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The Juksei River in South Africa flows through Alexandra, one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city of Johannesburg
Photo: GULSHAN KHAN / AFP
At least nine participants in a baptism ceremony drowned in a suburb of the South African metropolis of Johannesburg.
A spokesman for the rescue services told the dpa news agency on Sunday that 33 baptized people had gathered in Bramley Park on the banks of the Jukskei River on Saturday and were surprised by a sudden flash flood and strong current.
Since then, the bodies of nine baptized have been recovered, and another eight are still missing.
They will continue to be searched for.
However, the rescue workers assumed that the number of deaths would continue to rise.
Four people drowned at a baptism in Limpopo province in June.
South African authorities advise against holding baptisms in rivers.
The spokesman for the rescue services also appealed to the parishes to take into account the dangers of storms and floods - especially in the current South African summer months - when planning their rituals.
swe/dpa