Locals scrambled through a flood to catch a koi carp that escaped from its pond in Thailand.

Footage shows four men trying to secure the ornamental creature swimming through the deluge using bare hands and a bucket in Chiang Mai province, Thailand on October 7.

Two residents tried to grab the fish, but it easily slipped off their grip. Their friends brought a black container to lift it out of the water.

However, the koi kept gliding away from their clutches, and they had to follow it across the inundated street to bring it home.

Neighbour Gift Ratti said: ‘The carp swam out of its flooded pool and was swimming out of the house when it was found.'

The koi was later caught and returned to its owner after almost half an hour.

Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are at the start of their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms. The rudimentary infrastructure often struggles with the deluge, leading to widespread flash floods.