‘Run for your lives!’: Tourists stampede as earthquake floods bangkok streets

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‘Run for your lives!’: Tourists stampede as earthquake floods bangkok streets
‘Run for your lives!’: Tourists stampede as earthquake floods bangkok streets

The video in our player captures the moment terrified locals ran for their lives after water poured onto the street from a high-rise pool

This is the terrifying moment people fleeing the deadly Myanmar earthquake are drenched in gushing water from a rooftop infinity pool.

The destructive 7.7 magnitude quake rocked south east Asia today with footage capturing terrified locals in Bangkok being swept away by a huge wave after water from a pool spilled onto the street.

Water cascading down the side of a tall building. dqxikeidqkikdinv

At least 144 people have been found dead and another 732 injured in Myanmar, the country’s state television network has announced.

But there are fears the death toll across the continent could reach 100,000 as dozens remain trapped under mountains of rubble.

Horrifying footage shows the moment gallons of water come crashing down from the top of a skyscraper in the Thai capital.

A number of people, mainly women, can be seen running through the streets as the first tremors are felt in the city.

Those who were rushing to safety past the high-rise were suddenly caught up in floods of water after a rooftop infinity pool was left sloshing over.

Despite being 800 miles away from the epicentre of the earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, Bangkok has been declared a disaster zone.

Airports in the busy tourist hotspot suspended some of their operations as authorities assessed the scale of the damage.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra quickly declared Bangkok as an "emergency zone" - as she advised all people to evacuate any high-rise buildings immediately.

The Department of Disaster Prevention said the quake has impacted almost every region of the country.

In Myanmar, a state of emergency has been declared in six regions.

Aftershocks have also been felt in India and China - and the US Geological Survey has issued a red alert for deaths and damage.

It warned that "high casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread" - and thousands of deaths are likely.

They categorised the strength of the shaking as "violent" and said there could be up to 100,000 fatalities.

Brit tourist Paul Vincent was at a streetside bar in Bangkok when the quake struck.

He said: "Everybody came on the street... there was a lot of screaming and panicking, which obviously made it a lot worse.

"There was people crying in the streets... the panic was horrendous really."

The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said the initial quake had a depth of 10km.

A second 6.4 magnitude aftershock was also felt just 12 minutes later near Mandalay, the US Geological Survey reported.

Shocking images show extensive damage - with mountains of debris seen across Myanmar.

Giant cracks formed on the roads in the city of Naypyidaw and in the Sagaing region a 90-year-old bridge collapsed.

Much of Myanmar has been left covered in a thick layer of dust from collapsed buildings.

Police and emergency officials are working tirelessly to find survivors and rescue anyone who may be trapped in their homes.

Demolition of a tall building.

A skyscraper in Thailand’s capital crumbled to the ground due to the earthquakeCredit: X

Demolition of a building.

Huge plumes of smoke and debris filled the air as the skyscraper collapsedCredit: X

Debris from a collapsed building with rescue workers and onlookers.

A building in Bangkok reduced to a pile of rubble after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck nearby MyanmarCredit: Reuters

 
Editorial Team

David Wilson

Politics Editor

Thailand, Myanmar, Earthquake, Bangkok

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