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South Africa hit by deadly Easter church collapse | South Africa hit by deadly Easter church collapse |
(about 5 hours later) | |
At least 13 people have died and many were injured when a wall collapsed in South Africa at the start of an Easter service at a Pentecostal church. | At least 13 people have died and many were injured when a wall collapsed in South Africa at the start of an Easter service at a Pentecostal church. |
Emergency services said that 29 people were rushed to hospital after the collapse in the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal. | Emergency services said that 29 people were rushed to hospital after the collapse in the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal. |
Local officials have blamed the tragedy on heavy rainfall in the area around eMpangeni on Thursday night. | Local officials have blamed the tragedy on heavy rainfall in the area around eMpangeni on Thursday night. |
Most of the victims were reportedly women sleeping in the church. | |
An 11-year-old girl is thought to be among them. | |
The wall at the front of the Pentecostal Holiness Church collapsed at the start of what had been planned as a weekend-long service to commemorate the Christian festival of Easter. | The wall at the front of the Pentecostal Holiness Church collapsed at the start of what had been planned as a weekend-long service to commemorate the Christian festival of Easter. |
On Friday, a special prayer service was held in a large tent in front of the church, reports the eNCA TV station. | On Friday, a special prayer service was held in a large tent in front of the church, reports the eNCA TV station. |
The Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, the mayor of Zululand municipality, said the community was devastated and they would be praying for those affected by the tragedy. | |
"Christians [from] all denominations - we are here in solidarity. We are here to pray with the church, to pray with the families and to offer our support that God may really heal their wounds." | |
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the church last year and some of the congregants reportedly asked for his support to build a new church. | President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the church last year and some of the congregants 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. | Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant is a member of the church and was planning to attend the Good Friday service there. |
She visited the scene and said: "Even at this difficult time, we still need to trust in God." | |
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Local official Lennox Mabaso told SABC news that the church "a solid structure". | Local official Lennox Mabaso told SABC news that the church "a solid structure". |
"It is an act of nature. It is an act of God. Not even a president could have been able to save this particular situation," he said. | "It is an act of nature. It is an act of God. Not even a president could have been able to save this particular situation," he said. |
"It was a heavy storm that affected this area." | "It was a heavy storm that affected this area." |