Rain forecasts raise fears in flood-hit Indonesia, Sri 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.

- 

In Indonesia, the weather agency warned the three hard-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 reporters at a shelter in Pandan, North Sumatra.

The death toll in Indonesia rose to 836 on Thursday, with the majority killed in North Sumatra and Aceh provinces, national disaster mitigation agency spokesman Abdul Muhari told a press briefing.

More than 800,000 people are displaced and over 500 remain missing, with patchy communications and electricity making it hard to confirm their whereabouts, the spokesman added.

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