Jakarta, Dec. 6 -- The Indonesian government has ordered a temporary suspension of activities by companies operating in the Batang Toru River Basin in North Sumatra for environmental audits, following recent floods and landslides that claimed hundreds of lives.

Starting December 6, all companies in the basin and surrounding areas, including palm oil, mining and electricity firms, must halt operations and undergo environmental audits.

"We have summoned three of the companies for an official inspection on December 8 in Jakarta," Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said in a statement on Saturday.

He said the Batang Toru and Garoga River Basins are vital ecological and social areas that must be protected.

Nurofiq announced the move...