Forecasts of more rain raise fears in Indonesia, Sri Lanka

Downpour has frayed nerves in a region traumatised by flash floods and landslides

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Rain forecasts on Dec 4 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 that the three hardest-hit provinces on the island of Sumatra would see “moderate to heavy” rain between Dec 4 and 5.

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 Dec 4, revised down slightly from a day earlier as information arrived from remote, less accessible areas.

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