Shocked locals watched as an apartment block collapsed next to a bustling tourist market, trapping dozens of workers and leaving dozens feared dead.

Footage shows the structure crashing to the ground near the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok, Thailand.

Local media reported that dozens of people in the building were missing. At least four people have died in the collapse in the Chatuchak district of the city, yards from the bustling attraction.

The US Geological Survey said the tremor struck at a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles), and was centred in Myanmar, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of Monywa City.

Across Bangkok, terrified residents and workers ran into the streets after the quake caused buildings to sway at around 2:20 pm local time.

Thousands of buildings were evacuated as they swayed in the rare quake.

Debris was seen falling from several high-rise buildings. Officials closed roads and evacuated buildings as they assessed the damage and prepared for aftershocks.