TSMC resumes Japan plant operations after 7.1 quake

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, prompting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to evacuate workers at its Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing (JASM) plant before confirming all personnel were safe and beginning to resume operations.

Earthquake and Evacuation

The earthquake hit at 4:27 p.m. local time with its epicenter near the city of Uki, about 20 kilometers south of Kumamoto city, at a depth of 10 kilometers. The quake knocked out power to roughly 40,000 homes, suspended rail services including high-speed bullet trains, and triggered a tsunami advisory for waves of up to one meter.wikipedia+1

TSMC Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited ↘ 1.70% said workers at the JASM facility were evacuated in accordance with internal safety procedures after the earthquake struck. The company confirmed late Tuesday that all personnel at the site were safe.wtaq

Operations Gradually Resuming

"Post-earthquake structural inspections have been completed, confirming that the structures are safe and operations are gradually resuming. Detailed inspections and impact assessments are ongoing," TSMC said in an emailed statement, according to Reuters.wtaq

The company said the JASM construction site was unaffected but that parts of construction work had been suspended as a safety precaution due to possible aftershocks. JASM operates TSMC's first fabrication plant in Japan, producing semiconductors for automotive and industrial applications.wtaq

Broader Impact on Chip Supply Chain

Sony and Fujifilm ↗ 11.09% also evacuated nearby plants for safety inspections after the earthquake. The broader Kumamoto region has become a hub for semiconductor manufacturing in Japan, raising concerns about supply chain disruptions whenever seismic events occur.yahoo

The earthquake caused at least 50 injuries along with collapsed buildings, damaged roads, fires, and power outages across Kyushu island. Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said no irregularities were reported at nuclear power stations in the area.aljazeera+1