Taipei, Jan 21 (Reuters) - TSMC, a leading chipmaker, confirmed on Tuesday that all its facilities were operational after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck southern Taiwan overnight, centered in a rural mountainous area, resulting in minor damage and few injuries.
Following the quake, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the primary producer of advanced chips supplying companies like Apple and Nvidia, evacuated staff from certain locations in central and southern Taiwan as a precautionary measure. Structural checks post-earthquake have ensured safety, with operations gradually resuming as normal.
The company stated in an email, "Post-earthquake structural inspections have been completed at all sites, confirming that the structures are safe and operations are gradually resuming," highlighting that water, power, and workplace safety systems are functioning without issue, and all TSMC sites are back in operation. Ongoing detailed inspections and impact assessments are in progress.
TSMC reported that its construction sites were unaffected, continuing with regular operations following environmental safety assessments. As for the quake aftermath, Taiwan's fire department treated 27 individuals for injuries, while Taipower restored electricity to all 30,000 affected households by mid-morning.
Taiwan, located in a seismic zone due to its proximity to tectonic plate boundaries, experiences earthquakes periodically. The island's most recent major quake was a 7.2 magnitude tremor in April, striking Hualien County on the east coast and claiming 13 lives.