At least nine drown during baptism ceremony in Johannesburg | News | Al Jazeera

At least nine people have died in South Africa after they drowned during a flash flood along the Jukskei River in Johannesburg, emergency services said on Sunday.

They were swept away during a baptism ceremony, officials said. It is believed another eight people are still missing.

“We recovered two bodies yesterday and another seven today,” Robert Mulaudzi, Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesman, told DPA news agency.

The number is expected to rise as the search-and-rescue operation continues.