Johannesburg, Apr 19 (IANS): At least 13 people have died and many injured in South Africa after a wall collapsed at a Pentecostal church at the start of an Easter service, authorities said.

The incident happened on Thursday night in the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal and emergency medical services spokesperson Robert McKenzie linked the tragedy to heavy rainfall in the area, South Africa's online news publication News24 reported.

Authorities said 29 people were rushed to hospital after the collapse of the wall at the front of the Pentecostal Holiness Church and six of them were seriously injured.

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said the area experienced a storm and heavy winds which are believed to have resulted in the incident. People were sleeping in the church when the brick wall collapsed, she added.

Following the incident, a special prayer service was held in front of the church on Friday, according to local eNCA TV station.