BANGKOK, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Seawater pushed up the flood-swollen Chao Phraya River by full moon tides is expected to threaten Bangkok this weekend, officials said.
The water level is expected to peak in Bangkok Oct. 24-25, and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has warned residents along the lower portion of the river to be on alert, the Bangkok Post reported Friday.
The National Disaster Relief Center said 17 people have died in the flooding, which has affected 211,946 households in central and northeastern provinces since the initial flooding incidents Oct 10.
Officials say water is being released from the Chao Phraya Dam at 101,000 cubic feet per second and from the Pasak Jolasid Dam in Lop Buri at 42,000 cubic feet per second, the Post reported.
"No matter what, more water is flowing into the Chao Phraya and the water level is expected to be particularly high on Oct. 24 and 25 when it will be pushed up by the high tides from the sea," Royal Irrigation Department Director-General Chalit Damrongsak said.
