This is the shocking moment shelves crashed to the floor as a powerful earthquake rattled a shop in Myanmar.

CCTV footage shows the shelves tipping over as the tremors hit the shop in Mandalay on March 28. A store counter slid across the floor, while a terrified clerk desperately crouched for cover as boxes fell onto her.

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, along the Sagaing fault.

Residents ran from their homes when they felt the tremors at around 1:20 pm local time. More than 1,700 people in the country have been killed and some 4,000, with rescue efforts ongoing.

The quake destroyed buildings, bridges, and dams, leaving many areas in ruins. Communication remains difficult as mobile networks are down, and access to electricity and the internet is limited.

In neighbouring Thailand, high-rise buildings shook and an apartment block under construction collapsed in Bangkok. At least 17 workers were killed.