From rooftop rescue to recovery: The tale of Caramel amid Brazil's floods

For several days, Brazil has been battling massive floods. Water flooded, among other places, the city of Canoes in the Rio Grande. The media released footage showing a horse that got stuck on a roof. Fortunately, the animal was able to be saved.

The media circulated an unusual video by a Brazilian TV station. The team was filming the city of Canoes from a helicopter and captured a horse that got stuck on the roof of one of the buildings. The area was practically all underwater.

According to available information, the horse, affectionately named "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 on the same day its mission to rescue the stranded horse began.

Firefighters and veterinarians climbed onto the building's roof, administered sedatives to the animal, immobilized it, and then placed it on an inflatable raft and transported it to land. Soldiers and other volunteers also participated in the rescue effort.

Mariângela Allgayer, a veterinarian at the hospital where Caramel is being cared for, reported that the horse arrived severely dehydrated.

Brazil's president's wife, Janja Lula da Silva, expressed her happiness about the successful rescue operation on social media, also sharing a photo of the exhausted but safe "Caramel."

The governor of the state, Eduardo Leite, shared a few words as well.

"Caramel" the horse was rescued by firefighters from Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo. It is currently receiving treatment at the Veterinary Hospital of Ulbra. Every life is precious, and we never give up!" - he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Torrential rains that began last week have led to the collapse of bridges and buildings. Water inundated 425 of the 497 cities in Rio Grande do Sul. Almost 165,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes. Sadly, at least 107 people have died.

The firefighters of Rio Grande do Sul have already rescued about 10,000 animals.