Bangkok earthquake LIVE: State of emergency after 7.7 magnitude rips by means of nations

People are running for their lives in chaotic scenes are unfolding in Thailand after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked the country.

The tremors, believed to have originated in Myanmar but severely impacting Bangkok, left people struggling to stand and buildings shaking violently, with water spilling over the top of luxury apartments in the city centre.

Bangkok police say a high-rise building under construction was captured collapsing as workers fled to safety and possible casualties are not yet known.

A dramatic video circulated on social media showed the multi-story building with a crane on top collapsing into a cloud of dust, while onlookers screamed and ran.

Police say they were responding to the scene near Bangkok’s popular Chatuchak Market, and had no immediate information on how many workers were on the site at the time of the collapse.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra called an emergency meeting to assess the impact of the earthquake, while the mayor has declared a state of emergency.

Live updates to follow….