Earlier today a 7.7 magnitude earthquake and an aftershock measuring 6.4 rocked Thailand and neighboring Myanmar, bringing down a high-rise building under construction in Bangkok

A huge earthquake in Thailand and Myanmar has prompted the UK Foreign, Development and Commonwealth Office (FCDO) to issue an emergency travel warning.

Earlier today a 7.7 magnitude earthquake and an aftershock measuring 6.4 rocked Thailand and neighboring Myanmar, bringing down a high-rise building under construction in Bangkok and damaging historic buildings in Myanmar. The quake struck in the early afternoon, sending people streaming out of buildings and seeking shelter anywhere they could find it from the blazing sun.

This morning the FCDO issued advice for any Brits travelling to or already in Thailand. It reads: “There has been a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, with strong tremors reported across Thailand and some damage reported to buildings in Bangkok. There may be after-shocks. If you’re in the area or planning to travel there, follow the advice of the local authorities or your tour operator and monitor local media.

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“The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake. If you’re in Thailand and need urgent help, call the British Embassy in Bangkok on +66 023058333.”

Separarely, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to certain parts of Thailand, due to regular attacks. They are:

• Pattani Province
• Yala Province
• Narathiwat Province
• southern Songkhla Province – south of the A43 road between Hat Yai and Sakom, and south of the train line which runs between Hat Yai and Padang Besar

The FCDO has also issued advice for travel to Myanmar. It reads: “There has been a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, the epicentre is in Sagaing region near Mandalay City, but other areas may be affected. Mandalay airport is reportedly closed. There may be several strong after-shocks. If you’re in the area or planning to travel there, follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local media.”

Similarly to Thailand, travel to parts of Myanmar is strongly advised against by the FCDO, due to the “increasingly volatile” conflict there. “The security situation may deteriorate at short notice and the military regime can introduce travel restrictions at any time. Consider your travel plans carefully,” the official advice reads. A full list of the areas on the ‘no-go’ list can be found on the FCDO website.

The greater Bangkok area is home to more than 17 million people, many of whom live in high-rise apartments. While the epicenter was in Myanmar, the area is generally sparsely populated, and most houses are low-rise structures. In Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city and close to the epicenter, the earthquake damaged part of the former royal palace and buildings, according to videos and photos released on Facebook social media.

In the Sagaing region just southwest of Mandalay, a 90-year-old bridge collapsed. Damage was also reported in China. Thai emergency responders say two people have been found dead and an unknown number of others are still under the rubble of a collapsed building in Bangkok.