A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan’s northeastern coast late Saturday, according to the island’s Central Weather Administration.
Taiwan Earthquake: Details
The quake occurred approximately 32 kilometers (20 miles) off the city of Yilan at 11:05 pm local time (1505 GMT/UTC) and had a depth of 73 kilometers (45 miles).
Residents and local media reported that the earthquake shook buildings in the capital, Taipei, prompting the government to send alerts to public mobile phones. Some ceilings collapsed and supermarket shelves toppled, local media said.
Rail operators temporarily slowed some train and high-speed rail services as a precaution. Within minutes, the Taipei city government stated there were no immediate reports of major damage.
The earthquake was not strong enough to trigger a tsunami alert, the country’s fire department told Reuters.
TSMC Evacuates Facilities
The world’s largest contract chipmaker, TSMC, evacuated a small number of its facilities as a safety measure. “Prioritising personnel safety, we are conducting outdoor evacuations and headcounts in accordance with emergency response procedures. Work safety systems at all facilities are operating normally,” the company said in a statement.
Taiwan is a vital producer of advanced semiconductors, including cutting-edge chips. Any disruption to Taiwan’s chipmakers could impact global supply chains and increase tech prices.
Taiwan Prone to Seismic Activity
Taiwan is prone to earthquakes. In April 2024, a magnitude-7.2 quake struck the island’s east, resulting in at least 18 deaths and over 1,000 injuries. A 7.3 magnitude quake in 1999 killed more than 2,000 people.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te urged residents to “stay vigilant,” check on family and friends, and be aware of possible aftershocks.
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