At least 15 still alive under Bangkok skyscraper rubble, rescuers say

At least 15 people are thought to still be alive and trapped under the rubble of a Bangkok skyscraper that collapsed after a massive earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand.

Rescuers say they have detected signs of life and communicated with some survivors under the 10-storey tall mountain of debris.

Scores of construction workers remain missing at the site, as the rescue effort heads into its second day.

The 7.7-magnitude quake occurred on Friday afternoon local time, killing hundreds at the epicentre near Mandalay, Myanmar. Its powerful effects could be felt hundreds of miles away in the Thai capital, as well as in China and India.

There have been reports of widespread devastation in the Saigaing region and Mandalay, including flattened buildings and temple spires toppled. Officials in Myanmar say over 1,000 have died so far while another 2,376 are injured.

In Bangkok, thousands experienced the quake's effects as buildings swayed and water sloshed out of swimming pools. Officials said they received 2,000 reports of cracks appearing in buildings.

But the capital has emerged largely unscathed – except for the unfinished headquarters for the auditor-general's office, which remains the focal point of the damage in Thailand.

Situated just across from the tourist landmark Chatuchak market, the 30-storey skyscraper once featured a gleaming tower of blue glass and steel.

The earthquake has reduced it to a mountain of twisted rebar and shattered concrete, dwarfing the hundreds of rescue workers scurrying around it.

Out of the more than 400 workers who were at the site, at least 96 are missing, while eight have died and another eight found injured, according to the latest official figures.

Some are believed to be Burmese. Many Burmese migrants work in Thailand's construction industry.

Throughout Friday night and into Saturday morning, drones, sniffer dogs, cranes and excavators were brought in to help with the rescue effort.

By lunchtime, officials said they had detected at least 15 people alive beneath the rubble, located some 5m to 10m from the top of the pile.

As the "building collapsed like a pancake" – and is continuing to collapse – rescue work has been difficult, forcing officials to refrain from using heavy machinery, one official said.

They said they were able to make contact with some of the survivors who "shouted and made noise". Others were detected by their movements and body heat.

"We want to save them as soon as possible," said one official. "Some signs of life we received last night have since gone silent. I want all Thais to pray for them, to be strong."

Officials have yet to find out why the building collapsed, and have given investigators a week to probe.

In a dusty corner of the construction site, tents and desks were set up to register the details of relatives of the missing.

Solemn-faced groups of people, mostly women, gathered in the tent in the sweltering heat, their faces clouded with worry. Occasionally, some burst out in sobs.

"I wanted to come here desperately, I wanted to see my husband," wailed one woman, who gave her name as Naruemol, as her friend comforted her.

"I just need to see him once, in whatever condition he's in."

One man named Siew, who was waiting to hear news of two missing cousins, told the BBC: "I think the chance of them surviving is very slim… In my heart, I don't know if they will survive."

Top government officials have vowed to continue the search for the missing workers.

Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnweerakul addressed reporters while visiting the site, saying: "We work tirelessly and are still working around the clock to make sure that everbody is safe."

"We will keep working until there is no one left inside… We always have hope."

Additional reporting by Sawitree Jang, Arunoday Mukharji and Nick Marsh