- A 6,4 magnitude earthquake struck southern Taiwan, with its epicenter in Chiayi and a depth of 9,7 km.
- TSMC evacuated plants in the south and center of the country as a safety measure.
- More than 26 people were injured, minor damage to infrastructure and landslides were reported in rural areas.
- The island, located at the confluence of tectonic plates, frequently experiences earthquakes.
A 6,4 magnitude quake shook southern Taiwan during the early hours of last Tuesday, causing minor damage but setting off alarms in several regions of the country. The earthquake had its epicenter in Chiayi County, specifically in 37,9 kilometers southeast of its town hall, Taiwan's Central Meteorological Agency (CWA) reported. The depth of the quake was 9,7 kilometers, and its impact was widely felt across the island.
The quake prompted the evacuation of industrial plants belonging to TSMC, the world's leading contract semiconductor manufacturer. The company, which maintains factories in central and southern Taiwan, took the measure as a precaution to protect its workers. Although no incidents were reported, significant damage At its facilities, safety and assessment teams remain active to monitor any potential impact on advanced production equipment.
Damage and disruption in rural communities
The earthquake left a balance of 26 wounded According to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in rural areas of Nanxi District, 1,000 cases were reported ground slides who blocked access to a village, leaving 50 residents incommunicadoEmergency teams are working hard to restore road access and ensure the safety of those affected.
In Tainan, another affected city, more than ten homes suffered Partial damage or collapsed in its entirety. Emergency services rescued several people who were trapped in the rubble, including a niño, in scenes that filled the day with drama. These images were captured by neighbors and widely shared on social media.
Replicas and security measures
The CWA recorded more than 50 replicas in the hours after the earthquake, prolonging concern among the island's inhabitants. In cities such as Taipei, authorities issued real-time alerts via mobile devices, asking citizens to seek shelter.
Taiwan, located at the confluence of the Philippine and Eurasian tectonic plates, experiences earthquakes regularly. This latest movement joins a series of recent seismic events that have tested the resilience of local infrastructureIn April last year, a 7,2 magnitude earthquake struck the island's east coast, causing 18 deaths and thousands of wounded.
Reinforcement and anti-seismic regulations
Taiwanese authorities continue to work on reinforcing older buildings and enforcing stricter building standards to minimize risks in future similar events. Thanks to these improvements, many modern structures have shown surprising resilience even in the strongest earthquakes.
In several cases, the use of flexible steel bars has helped mitigate the impact of earthquakes, allowing buildings to sway in a controlled manner rather than collapse. However, many rural communities that do not have these updates remain vulnerable.
This earthquake has not only tested the country's infrastructure, but also its emergency response capacity. Although the damage was minor compared to previous events, it reinforces the importance of preparation in a geological context as complex as that of Taiwan.
Latest news (updated)
TSMC has reported that All its centers are functioning after the earthquake. Great news, given that the company is responsible for manufacturing around 65% of the chips worldwide, including those of companies such as Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, Manzana, Mediatek, Qualcomm, and many more…
Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.