Video: Miracle baby born in Brazil flood aftermath

The mother was on the way to the hospital when she went into labour on the boat

Extraordinary footage has captured the moment a baby boy was born on a boat in the flood-hit region of Linhares in Brazil.

The boat was taking the heavily pregnant woman to hospital when she went into labour, forcing the crew to deliver the baby while still on the water.

The crew of firefighters manning the boat were initially informed about the pregnant woman by a villager. The woman was suffering from labour pains the day before but was cut off from medical care due to the flood waters.   

In the video the woman can be seen holding her newborn son shortly after giving birth while another member of the crew smiles and looks back at the camera.

The disaster relief boat was carrying supplies to villagers cut off by the devastating floods that are affecting Brazil when they heard about the woman.

Over 40 people have died since torrential rain swept through the south-eastern Brazilian states of Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais. President Dilma Rousseff has pledged millions of dollars in aid to the two states.

The floods have left houses and roads destroyed while many buildings have been left submerged in the deluge. Around 70,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in what is thought to be the worst to hit the region in 90 years.