A strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar on Friday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said, buckling roads in the capital Naypyidaw and with tremors felt in China and Thailand.
Bangkok police say a 30-storey building under construction for government offices collapsed when the earthquake hit around midday.
Medics say at least 43 workers are trapped.
A dramatic video circulating on social media showed the multi-storey building with a crane on top collapsing into a cloud of dust, while onlookers screamed and ran.
Police said they were responding to the collapse, which happened near Bangkok’s popular Chatuchak Market, but had no immediate information on how many workers were on the site at the time of the collapse.
The tremor's epicentre was located 16 kilometres northwest of the city of Sagaing at a depth of 10 kilometres around 12:50 pm, the USGS said.
Some metro and light rail services were suspended in Bangkok.
Thailand's stock exchange said on it is on "full halt."
The midday temblor was followed by a strong 6.4 magnitude aftershock.
Roads were buckled by the force of the tremors and chunks of ceilings fell from buildings.
Tremors were also felt through northern Thailand and down to the capital Bangkok, where residents ran into the streets as buildings shook.
"I heard it and I was sleeping in the house, I ran as far as I could in my pyjamas out of the building," said Duangjai, a resident of the popular northern tourist city Chiang Mai.
Tremors were also felt in Yunnan province, according to Beijing's quake agency, which said the jolt measured 7.9 in magnitude. (Agencies)
43 trapped after quake brings down Bangkok high-rise
2025-03-28 HKT 15:22
