A powerful earthquake has hit Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand, reaching 7.7 on the Richter scale.

Dozens of workers have been trapped in collapsed skyscrapers in Bangkok, where a state of emergency has been declared.

On Newstalk Breakfast, journalist Tommy Walker who is on the ground in Bangkok said people have been evacuated from buildings.

“An earthquake hit Myanmar this morning and the aftershocks or the tremors have hit Bangkok – it’s a little bit unprecedented for Bangkok, because they hardly ever happen here,” he said.

“Thousands of people have been evacuated throughout the city from high rise buildings.

“There's been a building that was getting constructed in the Bang Sue neighbourhood has collapsed.

“They say now that 67 people are unaccounted for and that number might rise, but we're just we're just waiting to see the developments.”

Rescuers work at the site of a high-rise building under construction that collapsed after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, March 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Mr Walker said he was “swayed” out of his bed by the aftershocks.

“People are on the streets, just waiting – there’s a no fly zone at the moment, not sure how long that's going to be in place for, but yeah, people are on the streets right now,” he said.

“I'm outside my apartment in downtown Bangkok, when the earthquake, the impact, was felt, I was sleeping off an overnight trip and basically got swayed out of my bed.

“People were running down the fire exit and just getting onto the streets, so people are just waiting to get back in right now.

“All the hotel and condo staff are saying you’ve got to get on the streets - we're not sure if there's going to be any further aftershocks.”

Damaged pagodas are seen after an earthquake, Friday, March 28, 2025 in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Locals have told Mr Walker they have never experienced anything like this.

“It’s a bit calmer now but I've seen some tourists sobbing, a bit scared, and on the phone to their loved ones,” he said.

“Some Thai people have spoken to me and they've said that they've lived here all their lives and they've never experienced anything like this before.

“Like an earthquake in Bangkok is unheard of, you know, to this to this magnitude.

“People are worried but it's a bit calmer now - you can still hear in the background fire alarms going off, you know, and people are just a little bit waiting for updates, really.”

A damaged monastery is seen after an earthquake, Friday, March 28, 2025 in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)