'It felt like vertigo': Scot living in Bangkok felt tremors as deadly earthquake kills hundreds

A Scot living in Bangkok said an earthquake which killed over 150 people initially felt like “vertigo” as he was forced to evacuate his home.

At least 144 people were killed in Myanmar, where photos and video from two hard-hit cities showed extensive damage.

At least eight died in Thailand’s capital, where a high-rise building which was under construction collapsed.

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake, with an epicentre near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, struck at midday and was followed by a strong 6.4 magnitude aftershock.

Thailand’s defence minister Phumtham Wechayachai earlier said 90 people were missing at the site where the high-rise building collapsed.

Seven people were rescued earlier on Friday from the collapsed building near Bangkok’s popular Chatuchak Market.

A multi-story structure in Bangkok collapsed after the earthquake struck, sending a crane on top toppling to the ground and a massive plume of dust into the air.

A dramatic video circulated on social media showed the collapse of the building, which was under construction, while onlookers screamed and ran.

Alexander MacGregor, a PR consultant who has been living in Bangkok for the last six months, was working from home when the tremors began at around 1.30pm local time.

He told STV News: “I started to feel a bit of vertigo, like feeling dizzy and I had to sit down for a few minutes.

“I was wondering if it was me or something else. When I got back up I looked over to the building next to me and the water was flowing from the side of it.

“At that point I knew it was an earthquake.”

He added: “It was quite dramatic, its not often you see a pool empty like that. It was a dramatic scene.

“I remember the noise more than the visual, just hearing the water coming down off the building.”

He was able to return to his home after a few hours and said there was no damage to his property.

Issuing a travel warning on Friday, the Foreign Office (FCDO) said the earthquake’s epicentre was in Sagaing region near Mandalay in Myanmar – where a state of emergency has been declared in six regions and states.

“There may be several strong aftershocks,” the FCDO said on its website.

“If you’re in the area or planning to travel there, follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local media.”