A pensioner was rescued from her collapsed home eaten by termites in Bangkok, Thailand.

Retired government employee Prakhong Butchuang, 64, was resting alone on the second floor of the two-storey wooden home when she heard loud creaking noises shortly before the entire structure collapsed at around 12:10 am on November 6.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Suchart Changtam of the Phraya Krai Police Station said: 'The scene of the incident was deep in a narrow alley. Rescuers had trouble reaching the area because large vehicles could not enter.'

Rescue teams arrived at the scene, where the 55-year-old house enclosed by fences was flattened. Under the pile of roof tiles and wooden beams, Prakhong was heard crying for help.

The Provincial Electricity Authority cut off power before volunteers safely freed the retiree from the debris. The rescue took 45 minutes.

Prakhong suffered minor abrasions and was taken to the Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital for treatment. She said: 'This house was built 55 years ago. It may have been damaged by termites over the years. I am the only one living in the house. Before it collapsed, I was sleeping in a room on the second floor. There was a loud creaking but I didn't think much of it.'

She urged police to secure the area as her belongings and valuables were still buried under the rubble.

Villagers said authorities had previously warned Prakhong to renovate her house, which had already tilted because of its age. However, she reportedly defied the warnings.

House collapses in Thailand often result from poor construction practices like the use of substandard materials, or failure to adhere to building codes. Seasonal flooding and soil erosion in the storm-prone country also further weaken structures.