Thailand shores up capital as water levels rise

BANGKOk / YANGON - Thailand's capital was braced for more flooding on Sunday as water levels rose in some of Bangkok's northern suburbs and troops raced to fortify defense walls to protect two key industrial zones.

Authorities have taken measures to divert floodwaters flowing from the north away from the city and into the Gulf of Thailand, but the capital was on tenterhooks because of the possibility of heavy rainfall into canals and rivers already full to the brim.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the authorities were doing everything possible to drive the water out, but were facing a race against time.