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bjbjLULU MARGARET WARNER: The heart of Bangkok, Thailand, braced for an inundation of floodwaters
today. The prime minister acknowledged the dikes around the city may not hold. John Sparks
of Independent Television News reports from Bangkok. JOHN SPARKS: The scourge of the countryside
has entered the city and rolled right up to the palace gates. Floodwaters from the north
have furthered their advance, and nothing and no one is sacred. The city's sophisticated
residents got their feet wet this morning, an unpleasant surprise from an unwelcome guest.
WOMAN (through translator): It came up really fast. It was dry early this morning. Now the
whole street is flooded. JOHN SPARKS: Twenty-three of Bangkok's 50 districts have now succumbed
to the waters, their streets filled with waders and improvised rafts and army trucks packed
with evacuees -- 50,000 troops have been moved into the city, but Thailand's army chief told
us it's not enough. GENERAL PRAYUTH CHAN-OCHA, Army chief, Thailand (through translator):
Many people are suffering, and we're doing what we can. But the most important thing
to say is that the people will have to be patient. JOHN SPARKS: She says she's doing
her best. The country's inexperienced prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, conferring
with advisers this morning. Later, she appeared shaken and close to tears. A reporter asked,
"Are you crying?" She denied it. "No, I haven't cried at all," she replied. Today marked the
first of a five-day special holiday here, this an opportunity to escape. The government
has urged residents to leave the city. They can't depart from Bangkok's second airport,
however. Don Muang International has been flooded out. Unless you have got access to
a large truck, you won't get through the front entrance. And I can tell you that the runways
aren't much better either. In terminal three, well, that's where the government has its
emergency response center, in retrospect, not the best place to put it. Members of various
government ministries now dealing with the crisis are having trouble getting here, this
a practical problem and a psychological blow. And what about foreign nationals, tourists?
What does the Thai government suggest they do? DR. TONGTHONG CHANDRANSU, Flood Response
Operations Center: For the tourists, I might suggest that Thailand is -- still be the good
destinations, but not in Bangkok right now. JOHN SPARKS: So, go to the beach? DR. TONGTHONG
CHANDRANSU: Please, or uphill. (LAUGHTER) JOHN SPARKS: All roads leading uphill today
were jammed. Those with the means were getting out. At the city's bus stations, passengers
queued in the blistering heat. And at Hua Lamphong Station, the concourse was packed.
Even the monks had to shove over. WOMAN: Up until really about an hour ago, we were fine
and just walking around the streets. And then all of a sudden, we saw some of the flooding,
and I think that's what made us nervous. JOHN SPARKS: You thought, right, we're getting
out of here. WOMAN: Exactly. JOHN SPARKS: It's probably a wise decision. The situation
is now critical, say officials, with more water and high tides expected this weekend.
JEFFREY BROWN: The floods have killed nearly 400 people and displaced more than 100,000
others. It's the heaviest flooding in Thailand in more than half-a-century. urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags
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place MARGARET WARNER: The heart of Bangkok, Thailand, braced for an inundation of floodwaters
today Normal Microsoft Office Word MARGARET WARNER: The heart of Bangkok, Thailand, braced
for an inundation of floodwaters today Title Microsoft Office Word Document MSWordDoc Word.Document.8