In the heart of Bangkok, panicked residents stormed out of their homes when an earthquake hit. Following the initial quake, sidewalks, squares, and streets became crowded with office workers, shop owners, and tourists who preferred the outdoors due to the fear of aftershocks and potential structural damage to buildings.

Videos confirmed by The New York Times, shared on social media, showed a building under construction completely collapsing. The incident resulted in at least three deaths, with dozens of construction workers trapped in the rubble, according to the authorities.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of Thailand declared Bangkok an “emergency zone,” urging residents to evacuate tall buildings in anticipation of aftershocks.

Additional videos captured water violently spilling from the rooftop swimming pool of a high-rise hotel, cascading down the side of the building.

The operation of Bangkok’s elevated train system, known as the Skytrain, was immediately halted, and traffic on main routes through the city came to a near total stop as individuals attempted to return to their homes.

Office complexes, shopping centers, and hotels evacuated staff and guests to conduct building inspections for any signs of damage before allowing re-entry.

Pam Kershaw and her husband, tourists from Melbourne, Australia, were on the 25th floor at the Athenee Hotel when the earthquake hit. Their room violently swayed, and pictures crashed against the walls.

“Its terrifying,” she remarked, sitting outside the hotel among hundreds of others waiting to return.

Muktita Suhartono and Sui-Lee Wee contributed to this report from Bangkok.