6.4-Magnitude Earthquake Halts TSMC Chip Production

On Tuesday morning, January 21, TSMC began assessing the impact of a 6.4-magnitude earthquake on its cutting-edge chip production facilities. Workers returned to their posts hours after the earthquake struck, and as of around 10:00 AM, there have been no reported injuries.

The earthquake occurred near Chiayi City, south of Tainan, where TSMC operates some of its most advanced semiconductor manufacturing clusters. These facilities supply AI and mobile processor chips to global companies, including Nvidia, Apple, and AMD.

The Director of the Southern Taiwan Science Park stated that all employees in the area's semiconductor and other manufacturing facilities were immediately evacuated in accordance with standard emergency protocols following the earthquake. The equipment at major facilities is designed to halt during seismic events to prevent further disruption.

By 9:00 AM local time, workers had returned to their workstations, although it remains unclear when full production will resume. Sources familiar with the situation indicated that thorough inspections are necessary before all equipment on TSMC's production lines can return to normal operation. Given the sensitivity of advanced chip manufacturing equipment, such checks are a standard procedure after sudden production halts.

One source noted, "These production lines are among the most advanced, and it may take several days to restore full production capabilities."

Earlier, TSMC confirmed that the earthquake had triggered evacuation procedures at several of its factories in both central and southern Taiwan. The company reiterated that employee safety is its top priority and assured that emergency response protocols are being followed, including thorough inspections of all indoor and outdoor areas.