Anxious Bangkok residents are steeling themselves against floods moving down from the northern part of Thailand, which are the worst to hit the country in decades. With Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra keeping everyone on edge with statements such as “I’m fifty percent confident that the inner zone of Bangkok will not be completely flooded,” it must be increasingly difficult to remain buoyant.

The Thai government yesterday announced a five day “holiday” for 21 provinces, including Bangkok, to allow residents to prepare for the floods or leave the city. The problem is, when 12 million people have already been preparing for almost two weeks for an onslaught of water, eventually panic buying of essentials like bottled water is going to run supermarket supplies low. Which is exactly what’s happening now in Bangkok. The city’s second airport has also been closed.

Authorities now expect the floods, when they eventually hit Bangkok, to last for two weeks to one month.

[Source: Times Live]