14 people have been confirmed dead after a group of people were swept away in the Jukskei River during a baptism ceremony on Saturday evening.
Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services (EMS) said they were searching for a group of people who were swept away in Alexandra.
Two bodies were recovered on Saturday, with another 12 recovered on Sunday. EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said crews would be returning to the area on Monday to continue the search for the remaining missing people.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon said that as many as 18 people may have been swept away in the flash flood. The rescue crew located the bodies of a woman and a teenage girl on Saturday, and another woman was rescued near Arkwright Avenue and taken to hospital.
On Sunday, they recovered the bodies of three men, six women, a girl, a boy, and a toddler.
"It has not been ruled out that one or more cases may not be related to the church baptism and may be from isolated incidents that had not been reported. Investigations are continuing," said Lambinon.
@CityofJoburgEMS Search Operation for Alex missing people who we’re swept away while attending a church ritual over the weekend continues this morning #2 bodies were recovered on #Saturday and another 12 on #Sunday bringing total number of bodies recovered to #14 @CityofJoburgZA pic.twitter.com/BiXmJC2d95
— Cojems Spokesperson (@RobertMulaudzi) December 5, 2022
