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At least nine people have died and eight others are still missing in flash floods along the Jukskei River in Johannesburg, rescue officials said on Sunday.
Two bodies were found on Saturday and seven more were found when the rescue mission resumed Sunday morning.
The dead and missing were all part of a congregation that held a religious service along the river Saturday, according to officials.
Rescue teams are interviewing some of those who survived or were rescued to determine the exact number.
Robert Muloz, a spokesman for Johannesburg’s emergency services, said Sunday that officials were constantly warning residents of the dangers of ceremonies along the river.
“The city of Johannesburg has had a lot of rain over the past three months and most of the rivers are now full. Our residents, especially the congregations who usually conduct such ceremonies, will be tempted to visit these rivers,” he said in a news release Said at the meeting.
Mulaudzi added: “Our message to them is to proceed with caution when conducting these rituals.”
Congregations often gather for church services, including cleansing and baptisms, along the Jukskei River, which flows through a number of townships, including Alexandra, east of Johannesburg.
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