Shocking moment a herd of cattle is swept away in a raging river amid Minnesota flooding – and more than a dozen of them are found alive on a hill TWO MILES away
- A herd of around 40 cows was swept into the Zumbro River early Friday morning
- Dramatic video shows the bobbing bovine being pulled downriver by the torrent
- Cows are usually good swimmers and at least 17 were found alive downstream
- But the rest are unaccounted for and rescuers can’t get to them amid flooding
- Southeast Minnesota was pounded by torrential rain, causing the river to swell
- The National Weather Service says the hazardous weather is set to continue
A herd of around 40 cattle was swept into a raging river in southeast Minnesota on Friday, after torrential overnight rain caused flash flooding in the area.
The cows were pulled into the Zumbro River near Oxbow Park, north of Byron at about 5:30 a.m., Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson told NBC News.
A dramatic video posted on Facebook shows some of the animals being pushed swiftly downriver in the torrent, their heads up for air but often submerged by the choppy waters.
The shocking video, posted on Facebook by Donny Ehlenfeldt, shows several cows being swept along in the raging Zumbro River near Oxbow Park early on Friday
The video shows some of the cows from a herd of around 40 being swept downriver, with their heads up for air
The herd belonged to Bob Eustice, who told FOX 9 57 they were swept away from his farm near the Zumbro River.
Torgerson said about 15 cows were found alive on a hill above the river more than two miles south of where they were pulled in.
Two more were found even further downstream.
The owner said the 27 other cows, including calves, are still unaccounted for.
Cows are good swimmers and can stay afloat for several miles, but tired cattle do drown.
‘Like any severe flooding situation,’ the sheriff told NBC, ‘we can’t get to ’em till things calm down.’
About 15 cows were later found alive on a hill above the river more than two miles south of where they were pulled in. Two more were found even further downstream. But the fate of 27 other cows is still unknown
The herd’s owner Bob Eustice said the cows were swept away from his farm as flash floods hit the area
Cows are good swimmers and can stay afloat for several miles, but tired bovine do drown
The National Weather Service is predicting ‘hazardous weather’ for the region on Saturday.
‘Flooding will continue tonight across portions of southeast Minnesota,’ the service said.
Up to eight inches of rain fell overnight in parts of Olmsted County, which was under a flash flood warning until 9 a.m. Friday.
Some of the cows can be seen floating in the river. Torrential rain caused the river to swell
A local Facebook user posted this photo of her flooded horse pasture on Friday. Southeast Minnesota was pounded by torrential rain overnight
The Olmsted County Emergency service shared this photo from County Road 103 East of Oxbow Park, saying: ‘Make sure if you see water across or on a roadway do not drive through it’
Many roads were closed because of flooding and power outages were reported around Dodge, Olmsted and Fillmore counties.
‘Make sure if you see water across or on a roadway do not drive through it. There are still several roads closed,’ the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office warned on Facebook.
‘Turn around and find an alternate route.’