Rio Tinto calls force majeure at Australia coal mine

SYDNEY, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO.AX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)(RIO.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Friday it has declared force majeure at its 4.5 million tonnes a year Hail Creek coking coal mine in Australia's northern Queensland state due to heavy rains.

"Hail Creek is the only Rio Tinto mine which we have had to declare force majeure because of the recent extreme rain in the Mackay region," said Alison Smith, a spokeswoman for Rio Tinto's coal unit in Australia. (Reporting by Fayen Wong)