A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, also affecting Bangkok, with hundreds of people fleeing in panic from buildings in the Thai capital after the tremors. A multi-storey building under construction in Bangkok collapsed and at least 43 workers were reportedly trapped inside. Thai Prime Minister Phatthongthaung Shinawatra called an emergency meeting to assess the impact of the quake.

Video circulating on social media showed the multi-storey building with a crane on top collapsing in a cloud of dust, as people screamed and ran. AFP journalists in the Myanmar capital, Naypyidaw, said roads buckled from the force of the tremors and pieces of roofs fell from buildings.

The epicentre of the quake was located 16 kilometres northwest of Sagaing city at a depth of 10 kilometres at around 12:50 pm local time (0620 GMT), the USGS said.

Terrified residents fled down the stairs of high-rise buildings and hotels in the densely populated city centre of Bangkok, the Daily Mail reported.

The greater Bangkok area is home to more than 17 million people.