Rain forecasts raise fears in flood-hit Indonesia, Lanka

Rain forecasts on Thursday raised fears of more damage in flood-hit Indonesia and Sri Lanka, after earlier deluges killed more than 1,500 people in four countries.

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In Indonesia, the weather agency warned the three hardest-hit provinces on the island of Sumatra would see "moderate to heavy" rain between Thursday and Friday.

The downpour started overnight and while it has not reached the same intensity as last week, it has frayed nerves in a region traumatised by flash floods and landslides.

"We are afraid that if it rains suddenly, the flood will come again," 54-year-old Sabandi told AFP at a shelter in Pandan, North Sumatra.

Indonesia's death toll stood at 776 on Thursday, revised down slightly from a day earlier as information arrives from remote, less accessible areas.

More than 560 people remain missing, with patchy communications and electricity making it hard to confirm their whereabouts.

Sabandi, who goes by one name, said she was stranded on her roof for two days without food or water before she could evacuate.

"My house was filled with mud," she said so high she couldn't enter.