Thailand's prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, says no one can stop the massive floods approaching central Bangkok and that the best thing to do is to let nature take its course.

Ms. Yingluck was close to tears Thursday when she said all her government can do is try to manage the situation.

Parts of the Thai capital and the suburbs were already flooded as residents made their way through waist-deep water in makeshift boats. Central Bangkok was still dry Thursday, but people were piling up sandbags outside their homes and businesses. Many supermarkets were empty. Those that remained open were rationing bottled water and other essentials.

Several countries, including the United States and Britain, have advised citizens to avoid all but essential travel to parts of Thailand. The domestic Don Muang airport, Bangkok's second largest, has been shut down

Unusually heavy monsoon rain started flooding Thailand in July and has killed at least 373 people so far.

The floods have been moving south towards central Bangkok along the Chao Phraya River and through a series of canals built to channel water out to sea.