Converts drown during baptism
2009-04-20 21:17
Kinshasa - A dozen followers of a revival church in Kinshasa drowned after they jumped into a river to be baptised, local media reported on Monday.
"Curiously, several half-clothed followers never re-surfaced (after diving in). They died by drowning," Democratic Republic of Congo's Le Phare newspaper reported.
The prophetess who was to perform the ceremony, Thetee Kalangangu, fled following the incident, the newspaper said, while irate residents appeared set to destroy the sect's quarters in a poor Kinshasa neighbourhood.
A similar drowning-by-baptism incident occurred two years ago about 50km from the Congolese capital, according to Le Phare.
- AFP