Numerous earthquakes rocked Hualien, in eastern Taiwan, late on Monday and early on Tuesday. Yet, no fatalities or significant damage was recorded, and major chipmaker TSMC stated that its operations were undisturbed.
At least 14 people were killed in Hualien, a mostly rural and poorly inhabited region, when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck on April 3. Since then, there have been over 1,000 aftershocks.
A significant portion of northern, eastern, and western Taiwan, including the capital Taipei, witnessed buildings shake all night long due to the magnitude 6.3 biggest earthquake. They were all really shallow.
According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, the series of earthquakes that began on Monday afternoon—roughly 180 total—were aftershocks of the significant earthquake that occurred on April 3.
The director of the Seismological Centre, Wu Chien-fu, told reporters that more aftershocks, however possibly not as severe, could be expected and that they represented a “concentrated release of energy”.
People in Hualien should be ready for additional inconvenience since heavy rain is expected for the entire week, he said.
According to the Hualien fire department, two buildings that were already vacant due to damage on April 3 sustained more harm and were tilting.
There were not any fatality reports.
Statements from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the biggest contracted chipmaker in the world, reported that while some employees at a few plants were evacuated, all personnel were safe and the facility and safety systems were operating as expected. TSMC’s operations are located on the western coast of the island.
It stated in an email that “at this time, we do not expect any impact on operations.”
The Taipei-listed shares of TSMC rose 1.75% on Tuesday morning as investors dismissed their fears regarding the earthquake.
Following reports of rock falls, several roads in the mountainous Hualien county were closed, and the authorities called off work and school for the day.
Taiwan is earthquake-prone because it is located close to the meeting point of two tectonic plates.
A 7.3-magnitude earthquake in 1999 claimed more than 2,000 lives, while a 2016 earthquake in southern Taiwan claimed over 100 lives.
