Earthquakes hit Myanmar and Thailand, toppling Bangkok skyscraper under construction

Bangkok — Two violent earthquakes rocked Southeast Asia on Friday, causing buildings in the Thai capital Bangkok to sway and prompting evacuations across the city, which officials declared an emergency zone, as well as in neighboring Myanmar. A skyscraper under construction collapsed when the first quake, with a magnitude of 7.7, struck in Bangkok, police said. 

A state of emergency was declared in the city. A major hospital in Myanmar was described as a mass casualty area, with reports of many casualties being treated in an outdoor triage area. Trading was halted on the stock exchange in Bangkok. 

Medics said 43 workers were trapped at the building collapse site in Bangkok, according to French news agency AFP, which said the structure was 30 stories high. Police told The Associated Press the scene was near Bangkok's popular Chatuchak Market.