This is the heartbreaking moment a young pooch tries to save itself from being swept away by fast-moving floodwaters by clinging onto a railing.

The footage was filmed by a resident in the town of Tres Pontas in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais following the heavy rains that caused flooding and damage.

The dog was filmed holding onto the yellow railing for dear life on a completely flooded Oswaldo Cruz Avenue, which is one of the main roads leading into the town.

The railing normally separates the paved road from a stream. However, the whole avenue was converted into a stream following the heavy rains on Sunday.

The video footage shows how the dog’s quick-thinking actions save it from being swept away by the fast-moving murky waters.

Thankfully, local residents said the pooch managed to escape unscathed as soon as the floodwaters subsided.

Heavy rain fell on Tres Pontas late on Sunday afternoon for around 40 minutes, with the ceiling of at least one residential property giving way.

The Fire Department reported that at least one family had to be relocated after rainwater entered their property and reached a height of 40 centimetres (16 inches).

Firemen also reported that two large trees fell in a neighbourhood of the city and had to be felled to clear the way.

Despite the heavy rainfall on Sunday, the rainiest months in Tres Pontas, which is a centre of coffee production, are typically January and March.