Southern Taiwan earthquake disrupts semiconductor production: half-day production loss expected

In the early hours of January 21, a powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Chiayi City, Taiwan, forcing leading semiconductor manufacturers – TSMC, UMC, and Innolux – to implement precautionary shutdowns of their production lines. In response, engineering teams were quickly mobilized overnight to assess damage and restore production efficiency.

The recovery process, which includes equipment inspection, cleaning and recalibration, is expected to take several hours, with potential production defects expected. Industry analysts estimate a minimum production loss of half a day, which would likely be covered by insurance.

Seismic impact on semiconductor facilities

According to industry regulations, semiconductor facilities must be shut down in the event of an earthquake of magnitude 4 or higher. The recent 6.4-magnitude earthquake in Chiayi was classified as a very shallow event, occurring at a depth of only 9.7 km, with a peak intensity of Level 6 (lowest). In Tainan, 26 aftershocks were recorded within 90 minutes, with the strongest magnitude reaching 5.2.

In the Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP), the earthquake recorded an intensity level of 5, prompting precautionary closures across various facilities. Equipment inspections, which are expected to last 4 to 6 hours, are ongoing and expected to continue through the morning of January 21.

TSMC's advanced manufacturing operations have received the most attention among affected companies, with stakeholders closely monitoring the impact on production timelines.

Seismic monitoring systems measured a ground acceleration of 84.90 GAL (intensity level 5 lower) at Tainan Science Park, while Kaohsiung Science Park recorded 31.20 GAL (intensity level 4).

The facility's seismic sensors reported higher accelerations in Tainan, with Innolux's Fab 3 recording 143.00 gallons (upper intensity level 5), TSMC's Fab 18 at 105.00 gallons, UMC at 131.00 gallons, and HannStar Display at 126.80 gallons – all rated as level Intensity 5 lowest. In Kaohsiung, Innolux's Fab 8 recorded a ground acceleration of 35.00 GPH (intensity level 4).

Operational status and safety measures after the earthquake

The STSP office confirmed that major manufacturers have taken precautionary measures by shutting down equipment and evacuating employees. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were reported.

Basic utilities, including water, electricity and gas, along with sewage treatment plants, public buildings and construction sites, were not affected by the earthquake. As a precaution, elevators in factory buildings and dormitories were automatically turned off.

By the morning of January 21, workers at the main STSP facilities had resumed work. Equipment failure assessments are ongoing, and the overall impact and timeline for recovery are still being determined. Fortunately, no injuries, fires or chemical leaks were reported. Water and electricity supplies remain stable, with no damage to public infrastructure.

TSMC emergency response

TSMC said several of its factories in science parks in central and southern Taiwan have met the evacuation threshold. Prioritizing employee safety, the company activated emergency response protocols and implemented internal and external evacuations along with a comprehensive headcount.

Inolox's efforts to recover

Innolux confirmed that it immediately implemented standard safety procedures, ensuring the well-being of its employees. Employees at Tainan sites that meet the evacuation threshold have been safely relocated, and the company has begun support initiatives for employees living near the Chiayi-Tainan border.

As a precaution, some equipment at the Tainan factory was automatically shut down. After conducting building safety assessments, technical teams began system inspections, and operations are gradually resuming.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos