Story By: Anna Guran, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

Video Credit: CEN/@Russian Emergency Situations Ministry

This is the moment firemen working to clear flood debris from a river rescue not just one but two cats clinging to rubbish.

This footage showing the cats being pulled from the water using a fishing net and put into a basket was shot near a bridge across the Iya River located in the town of Tulun in Russia’s Irkutsk Oblast region.

A spokesman for the local ministry for emergencies said that the fireman had been asked to clear debris from under the bridge, but as they approached the bridge they found more debris floating downstream.

Pictures Credit: CEN/@Russian Emergency Situations Ministry

On two occasions, they came across cats who have jumped into the water to escape the approaching vessel. Both the animal seemed to be exhausted, and look likely to sink at any point when they are pulled from the water by the fishing net.

The rescue operation attracted praise from online commentators for taking the time to save the struggling cats.

The floods caused widespread damage across the Irkutsk region following heavy rains and also claimed 24 lives, as well as the lives of thousands of domestic animals. 

For now only the Tulun region is still underwater. However an emergency situation is still in force with experts now working to try and disinfect the water supply system. 

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