WCC NEWS: WCC extends prayers for all affected by floods in South Africa

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay extended prayers and deep concern on behalf of the global fellowship to all those affected by severe flooding in South Africa.  Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 13 June 2025 At least 49 people have died with the toll expected to rise, according to response officials. The floods, on 10 June, devastated one of South Africa’s poorest provinces, the largely rural Eastern Cape province in the southeast of the country after an especially strong weather front brought heavy rains, gale-force winds, and snow. “We are saddened by the loss of life, and our hearts go out to those still searching for missing family members,” said Pillay. “As the third day of search-and-rescue continues, we pray for the emergency responders, for churches and neighbors who are helping in ways we may never know, and for those who will struggle on a long road to recovery.” Eastern Cape provincial government officials said hundreds of families were left homeless and in temporary shelters in that province after their houses were washed away or broken apart. At least 58 schools and 20 hospitals were damaged by the floods. The death toll included six high school students who were washed away when their school bus was caught in floodwaters close to the town of Mthatha, which was especially hard hit and at the center of the worst flooding. Four other students are among the missing. Authorities are still working with families to find out who is still unaccounted for. Disaster response teams have been activated in Eastern Cape province and the neighboring KwaZulu-Natal province. There have also been reports of mudslides. Power outages have affected hundreds of thousands of homes in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland