January 23, 2025 /SemiMedia/ — A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck near Chiayi, southern Taiwan region, early on January 21, prompting TSMC to suspend operations at some of its advanced chip manufacturing facilities for safety checks. The earthquake, which occurred at a depth of less than 10 kilometers, was felt across the island, with several regions in central and southern Taiwan registering tremors of magnitude 4.

TSMC reported that it immediately activated emergency evacuation procedures at its Central and Southern Science Parks. The company emphasized that no significant damage occurred, and all employees were accounted for safely. Operations resumed a few hours after the tremors, although full production recovery is still being evaluated.

“Initial structural inspections have confirmed that all plants are safe and operational,” TSMC said in a statement. “Water, power, and safety systems are functioning normally, and production is gradually returning to full capacity. Detailed assessments of the impact are ongoing.”

The earthquake temporarily halted production at several advanced chip lines, which are highly sensitive to disruptions. Sources indicated that while the equipment was designed to stop safely during seismic events, restoring normal operations could take several days.

TSMC operates its most advanced chip manufacturing facilities in Chiayi, producing AI and mobile processor chips for clients including Nvidia, Apple, and AMD.