This is the dramatic moment medics battled to save a seriously injured monk trapped under debris in the Myanmar earthquake.

Footage shows an emergency responder treating the wounded man buried under the rubble in Mandalay on March 30.

Rescue officer Sein Win Than said: 'He was found alive. I found him this morning still reciting the Buddhist scriptures.

'He was given full oxygen and the best possible care with medicine bottles. The doctors and nurses did all they could. They tried to save him, but he was seriously injured.'

The US Geological Survey said the deadly magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles), and was centred in Myanmar, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of Monywa.

Residents ran from their homes when they felt the tremors at around 1:20 pm local time on March 28. More than 2,000 people in the country have been killed and some 4,000 injured, 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.