Thai PM Urges Bangkok Residents To Move Valuables To Higher Ground, Upper Floors Of Buildings

[hatrack]

Millions of jittery Bangkok residents were warned Friday to move their belongings higher up after the government admitted it was failing in its battle to hold back huge floods just north of the city. In a desperate attempt to drain the sea of muddy water, the authorities have opened all of Bangkok's sluice gates to allow the floods to flow through canals and rivers in the low-lying capital and into the Gulf of Thailand.

The move should ease pressure on vulnerable flood barriers on the northern edge of the city of 12 million people, but increases the threat to Bangkok itself, where water levels in canals were rising on Friday and minor flooding was reported in some northern districts.

Residents were advised to move their possessions to higher floors or safe areas as the capital braced for the arrival of the floods from the central plains, which are several metres under water in places.

"I ask all Bangkok residents to move your belongings to higher ground as a precaution, but they should not panic. It's preparation," said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who has described the crisis as "overwhelming."

EDIT

http://news.yahoo.com/thai-pm-says-floods-parts-bangkok-inevitable-060929856.html

[Yo_Mama]

1. The floods in Thailand are very bad

They are going to have some international economic effect. Japanese manufacturers had moved quite a bit of manufacturing there, and are currently worried over the situation.