This is the moment a family and their baby are rescued from the roof of their home after spending all night there during a devastating flash flood.

Six adults and a baby were reportedly rescued from the roof of the house in the municipality of Murici, Alagoas state, Brazil, on 3rd July.

In nail-biting video footage of the rescue, the family has to pick its way across the damaged tile-stripped roof to get to the rescue helicopter.

The family was flown to a shelter in the town centre.

According to reports, the Mundau River broke its banks and the area was flooded, trapping the family in their home where they sought refuge on the roof.

The Fire Department said the family climbed to the roof to escape the floodwater and waited for help to come.

Fire Department spokesperson Carlos Burity said they tried to rescue the family the night before with a rescue boat, but could not get close.

Burity added: “They realised that it was too difficult as the currents were too strong. They tried three times before it got dark.

“When night fell, they tried again, but the boat ended up capsizing in the water.”

The rescue team spent the night with the family on the house roof before calling for a helicopter at dawn.

During two months of violent weather, the number of municipalities in an emergency situation in Alagoas State has risen to 51.

In total, 39,000 residents in the 51 municipalities have been affected by heavy rains and flash floods.