Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, was forced to evacuate employees from multiple facilities on January 21 after a series of strong earthquakes hit central and southern Taiwan. The quakes, which included a magnitude 6.4 tremor that struck Chiayi County north of Tainan at 12:17 a.m. local time, triggered significant precautionary measures across key industrial areas. As part of its emergency response, TSMC evacuated personnel from its factories located in the Central Taiwan Science Park in Taichung and the Southern Taiwan Science Park in Tainan, ensuring that all employees were accounted for and safe, as reported by Focus Taiwan (CNA).

The Southern Taiwan Science Park Bureau, which oversees the industrial area in Tainan, reported that production machines at major facilities were immediately shut down following the earthquakes. The bureau confirmed that no injuries occurred as a result of the tremors, but evacuation procedures were followed to mitigate any potential risks.

In the aftermath of the initial earthquake, nearly 50 aftershocks were recorded by Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA), with the most powerful reaching 5.2 on the Richter scale. The tremors predominantly affected the Tainan and Chiayi regions, prompting emergency response teams to scramble to assess and manage the damage. The Tainan Fire Bureau reported that three individuals, including two adults and a child, were trapped in a residential building in Tainan’s Nanxi District, close to the epicentre of the quake. Rescue efforts were quickly launched to free those trapped inside.

Additionally, a fire broke out at a printing factory in Chiayi City, though there have been no reports of people being trapped inside the facility. Rescue operations in both locations remain ongoing as authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage caused by the early morning tremors.

While TSMC’s operations were temporarily disrupted, the company’s quick response ensured minimal impact on its workforce. As Taiwan grapples with the aftereffects of the quake, the focus remains on rescuing those trapped and assessing the damage across the affected regions.