Chiayi, Taiwan, on January 21, 2025, an earthquake of 6.4 magnitudes rocked southern Taiwan early Tuesday morning, resulting in minor damages and injuries across the island. According to Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA) the quake hit at 12:17 a.m., the quake was centered 37.9 kilometers southeast of Chiayi County Hall and with a depth of 9.7 kilometers.
The seismic-intensity measurement was based on Chiayi County, which showed an intensity of 6 on Taiwan's 7-grade intensity scale for earthquakes. They also recorded a magnitude of 6.0 at the USGS.
So far, about 27 people are reported to have been injured, mainly due to the falling objects. The affected areas experienced damage in buildings, which included objects such as collapsed ceilings and also cracked walls. Full assessment of the extent of the damage is ongoing.
It was felt across Taiwan, including in Taipei, the capital, where buildings swayed and startled most residents into waking. However, there were no reports of major damage up north.
Impact on the Industry:
Taiwan is a major part of the international supply chain in the semiconductor industry, which made affected companies rush safety precautionary measures. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, has evacuated some of its factories for safety purposes. The company is currently evaluating the impact on its operation.
Seismic Activity in Taiwan:
Taiwan is in a very active seismic area, thus earthquakes are common throughout the island, which is known to have experienced great earthquakes in its history. One of its most devastating was in the year 1999 when a 7.3 magnitude quake claimed the lives of well over 2,000 people.
In the recent years, some steps have been taken to improve building codes and disaster preparedness measures in Taiwan to prevent the occurrence of such major events.
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