This is the heartwarming moment rescuers haul drowning foals from the water after a village in Kazakhstan disappeared under a flash flood.

The foals were among hundreds of horses and other livestock stranded when the Zhaiyk River burst its banks in the Akzhaik region.

Video footage of the rescue, shot by the Ministry of Emergency Situations, shows a motorboat heading towards a group of horses as they struggle to stay afloat in the water.

Rescuers can be seen pulling two exhausted and terrified foals aboard.

Later footage shows what appears to be at least four rescued young horses in the bottom of the boat.

Other horses, according to local media, had swum to high ground but were then stranded when the flood waters receded.

The ministry said in a statement on 3rd May: “Rescuers, together with local rescue organisations, rescued the animals from drowning and safely evacuated them to higher ground.

“In total, 365 head of livestock were saved, including 31 foals.

“Because the water was too deep for the foals, they were transported by boat.

“At first, rescuers were afraid the animals would be scared of them, but they soon started walking towards the boat, and thus a whole herd of livestock was safely moved to higher ground.

“Every life is important to us!”