Thailand's prime minister assured the residents of Bangkok Saturday that flooding in the capital's center would be minor and brief.

In her weekly radio address, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said a barrier of huge sandbags had been completed and drainage systems would keep the city's economic and political center mostly dry.

Bangkok residents have been doing what they can to fight the floodwaters, piling sandbags outside their homes and businesses. They have also stocked up on supplies. Many supermarket shelves are empty, while some stores are rationing bottled water and other essentials.

Some parts of the capital continued to experience considerable flooding.

Solid predictions are difficult, because various government officials – including the prime minister, disaster officials and Bangkok governor – have given often widely different versions of what city residents can expect.