Japan Kumamoto 7.1 Strong Earthquake! TSMC Kumamoto Plant 'Current Situation Exposed' Japanese Official Response

A magnitude 7.1 strong earthquake occurred in Kumamoto, Japan, at 4:27 PM on October 28th, with a focal depth of approximately 10 kilometers and a maximum seismic intensity of 7. This strong earthquake shook Kyushu, a major hub for Japan's semiconductor and manufacturing industries. The TSMC JASM Kumamoto plant in Kikuyo-cho recorded a seismic intensity of 5 strong, causing significant shaking and drawing global attention to the tech supply chain.

Factory structure is safe! TSMC evacuates everyone, no injuries At the time of the earthquake, the amplitude of the shaking reached the evacuation standard. TSMC immediately initiated emergency response procedures, evacuating all employees inside and outside the factory to safe areas and confirming everyone's safety. After an on-site safety inspection, no major damage was found in the newly constructed and existing factory buildings, and the production lines are gradually resuming operation.

Construction of 2nd plant halted as a precaution! Tokyo Electron and other supply chain giants conduct simultaneous safety checks Although there were no reports of damage to the second plant under construction, considering the subsequent aftershocks, some construction work has been temporarily suspended until safety checks are completed. Additionally, semiconductor equipment manufacturer Tokyo Electron stopped operations for one day on October 29th to conduct a comprehensive inspection. Sony Semiconductor evacuated employees and confirmed the status of their equipment. On the automotive front, Honda's motorcycle factory temporarily suspended production due to water accumulation from the activation of the sprinkler system, and Toyota Motor also temporarily suspended operations at its three factories in Fukuoka.

Disaster assessment ongoing! Japanese government official statement Kyushu experienced the Kumamoto earthquake in 2016 and suffered significant economic losses. The actual impact on the supply chain this time remains to be continuously evaluated. Regarding the current situation of the plant, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Tooru issued an official statement on October 28th, stating, "As of now, the government has not received any reports of damage to TSMC's Kumamoto plant from the earthquake." TSMC also emphasized, "We prioritize employee safety above all else."