At least 12 feared dead in Burma quake

A 6.8-magnitude quake struck central Burma some 120km (70 miles) north of the second-largest city of Mandalay, at a depth of 10km.

In Mandalay, terrified residents dashed out of their homes for safety, fearing more tremors.

The earthquake hit at 07:42 local time (01:12 GMT).

Damage is widespread and while the number of injured is significant, it has not reached astronomic heights.

Burma's local media is reporting that an under-construction bridge collapsed in the town of Shwebo, closest to the epicentre.

An official in Sintku township also reported that six people had died there, some of them workers at a gold mine that collapsed. A number of people were injured.

A police officer in Shwebo reportedly said that five construction workers who had been working on the Radana Thinga bridge near the town were missing after "a huge steel beam fell into the river".

He said that one woman had also died and 10 people had been injured in the nearby town of Kyauk Myaung after a house collapsed.

Temples were reported damaged at Mogok, close to the epicentre.

Save The Children told Agence France-Presse it had reports of 13 deaths across four sites in Burma, with some 40 people injured.

The US Geological Survey issued a yellow alert, indicating that "some casualties and damage are possible".