The company said the closure on Tuesday occurred due to an “ingress of water in one of the sections” of the mine.
While there was no comment on the scale, evidently it was enough to trigger an urgent evacuation.
“Buffalo's emergency procedure was initiated and the mine has been evacuated safely,” the company said.
“Management is currently working to assess the extent and impact of the incident.”
Buffalo CEO Malcolm Campbell said he was pleased with the reaction of the mine’s emergency team and the implementation of emergency procedures.
“The safety of our employees is our top priority at all times,” he said.
The mine produces about 1 million tonnes of bituminous coal a year – about 70% of Buffalo's total annual production.
