Skyscrapers crumble in Bangkok after strong tremors

Shocking scenes of destruction unfolded in Bangkok, Thailand, after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, causing several buildings to collapse in the capital city.

A video circulating online showed a high-rise building under construction reduced to rubble, as people on the ground scrambled for safety.

Several construction workers at the site had been reported missing following the incident in the Chatuchak Market area, while others have been rescued alive.

The earthquake, with a depth of 6.2 miles below ground, was registered by the US Geological Survey and Germany's GFZ Centre for Geosciences.

After the initial shock, a second earthquake, measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale, struck.

With the epicenter located in Myanmar, the powerful tremors jolted Bangkok, heavily impacting concrete structures. Many buildings reportedly swayed, prompting evacuations. The tremors affected Bangkok at 1:30 pm local time, causing panic among residents as alarms sounded and buildings visibly shook.

Social media quickly flooded with videos showing skyscrapers collapsing in several locations, as people sought shelter and captured the shocking visuals on their phones.

Reports of damage from Myanmar are limited, given the ongoing civil unrest in the country; however, some sources confirmed that the Ava Bridge, several residential areas, and religious sites suffered significant damage during the earthquake.

While earthquakes are common in Myanmar, they are rare in Thailand, and as such, buildings in Bangkok are not typically designed to withstand such seismic events.