Taiwan TSMC sign./Courtesy of News1

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest foundry, recently suspended some facilities at its factory in the southern science park in Taiwan as a precautionary measure due to a series of earthquakes measuring 5 or higher.

According to Taiwanese media, including the Liberty Times and United Daily News, the Southern Science Park Administration stated that TSMC and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), the second-largest foundry in Taiwan, took related measures following a 5.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred in the southern Tainan area the previous morning. There were no reported casualties within the park, and industrial facilities are said to be operating normally.

TSMC currently operates one global research center, four 12-inch wafer plants, four 8-inch plants, one 6-inch plant, and five advanced packaging plants in southern, northern, and central Taiwan.

After the earthquake the previous day, tremors measuring between 3 and 4 continued in the area. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) Earthquake Prediction Center noted that the 5.6 magnitude earthquake was an aftershock of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the southern region on the 21st. They explained that while the frequency of earthquakes is decreasing, the possibility of a relatively larger aftershock occurring within one to two weeks cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, it was reported that 135 aftershocks had occurred by 11:46 a.m. the previous day.