13 People Killed, Many Injured as Church Collapses In South Africa
South Africa, Southern Africa Friday, April 19th, 2019
(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – No fewer than 13 people have been reportedly killed and many were injured when a wall collapsed in South Africa as the Easter service took off at a Pentecostal church.
Emergency services confirmed that 29 people were rushed to hospital after the incident which occred in the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal.
The tragedy, according to local officilas was due to heavy rainfall in the area around eMpangeni Thursday night.
Local reports have it that some people had been sleeping when the brick wall fell.
The wall collapsed at the start of what had been planned as a weekend-long service to commemorate the Christian festival of Easter.
Following the development, a special prayer service was held in a large tent in front of the church.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the church last year and some of its members reportedly asked for his support to build a new church.
Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant is a member of the church and was planning to attend the Good Friday service there.
She has arrived at the scene and said: “Even at this difficult time, we still need to trust in God.”
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