Climate change harms even religious rituals, as happened during a baptism in South Africa, where 15 people died. The accident was caused by flooding the Jukskei River, which runs through several peripheries of Johannesburg, the largest city in this country.

Among the victims was a three-month-old baby, who was also swept away by the current. Pastor Kind Kupe was rescued in time, he was leading the religious ceremony when the tragedy occurred.

Climate change experts indicated that this case is an example that there are still adaptation problems in humans. South Africa has been suffering from big floods recently, making outdoor baptisms highly dangerous.

Christianity Today reported:

“Last April, floods and landslides hit the country’s Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces after heavy rains in some areas exceeded 11 inches in 24 hours. The floods killed more than 400 people, displaced another 40,000, and destroyed more than 12,000 homes.”

Historically, the Church Johane Masowe Group has had the tradition of carrying out these baptisms under the same conditions. However, some neighbors pointed to the church leaders as guilty of the tragic event that occurred in December 2022.

Read the full article here.

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Melanie Encina

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