Hope on a rooftop: The miraculous rescue of "Caramel" in Brazil's floodwaters
For several days, Brazil has been battling massive floods. Water has flooded, among other places, the city of Canoes in the state of Rio Grande. The media has shared footage showing a horse stranded on a roof. Fortunately, the animal was rescued.
10 May 2024 10:01
The media shared a remarkable video made by a Brazilian TV station. The crew was filming the city of Canoes from a helicopter and spotted a horse stranded on the roof of a building, nearly submerged.
According to available information, the horse, nicknamed "Caramel" by social media users, was trapped on the slippery, narrow roof for several days.
The Department of Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul announced that it began a rescue mission for the stranded horse.
Firefighters and veterinarians climbed onto the building's roof, sedated the animal, immobilized it, and then secured it on an inflatable raft to transport it to safety. Soldiers and other volunteers also contributed to the rescue effort.
Mariângela Allgayer, a veterinarian at the hospital caring for the horse, reported that "Caramel" was severely dehydrated upon arrival.
Horse stranded on the roof of a flooded house
The wife of Brazil's president, Janja Lula da Silva, expressed her happiness about the successful rescue on social media and shared a photo of the exhausted but safe "Caramel".
The governor of the state, Eduardo Leite, also commented.
"Caramel" the horse was rescued by firefighters from Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo. It is now receiving treatment and has been taken to the Veterinary Hospital in Ulbra. Every life is precious, and we never give up!" - he stated in a post published on X (formerly Twitter).
Floods in Brazil
Torrential rains that started last week led to the collapse of bridges and buildings. Water inundated 425 out of 497 cities in Rio Grande do Sul. Nearly 165,000 residents were forced to evacuate their homes. Regrettably, at least 107 people lost their lives.
The firefighters of the state of Rio Grande do Sul have already rescued about 10,000 animals.
