At least 144 people have been killed and 732 others injured in Myanmar following a powerful earthquake, according to the head of the country’s military government, writes Sky News.

“The death toll and injuries are expected to rise”, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said on television.

The 7.7 magnitude quake struck around midday local time at a shallow depth of six miles, with the epicentre about 10 miles from the second city of Mandalay. There were also aftershocks, with one measuring a strong 6.4 magnitude 12 minutes later.

Neighbouring Thailand was also rocked by the earthquake, with nine people killed in the capital Bangkok, including eight who died after a skyscraper, which had been under construction, collapsed.

Rescuers searching through the rubble of the tower block for survivors have said more than 100 people were missing. Footage showed the high-rise in the Chatuchak area crashing to the ground as people ran away from the scene.