Thai PM moves to soothe Bangkok flood jitters

BANGKOK - Thailand's premier on Friday reassured Bangkok's 12 million residents over a looming flood crisis, after an evacuation false alarm briefly sparked panic and people stockpiled food and water.

Massive efforts are under way to prevent the densely populated capital from being inundated by the country's worst floods in decades, which have wreaked havoc in north and central Thailand, leaving at least 289 people dead.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Friday that the situation was under control.