THIS is the terrifying moment people fleeing the deadly Myanmar earthquake are drenched in gushing water from a rooftop infinity pool.
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck south east Asia today, leading to chaos and fear as captured in videos showing panicked locals in Bangkok being engulfed by a massive wave caused by overflowing water from a pool onto the streets.
At least 144 people have been found dead and another 732 injured in Myanmar, the country’s state television network has now announced.
The devastating impact of the earthquake is believed to have caused up to 100,000 fatalities across the region, leaving many individuals trapped beneath extensive piles of debris as both tall buildings and residential structures collapsed.
Horrifying footage shows the moment gallons of water come crashing down from the top of a towering 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.
Individuals who were evacuating buildings to seek safety found themselves in unexpected danger as torrents of water swept through the streets when a rooftop infinity pool overflowed during the tremors.
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 – with at least 12 people confirmed dead so far.
Aftershocks had 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 with the epicentre near the city of Mandalay, Myanmar.
A second 6.4 magnitude aftershock was also felt just 12 minutes later near the city, 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.
