6.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern Taiwan, No Major Casualties Reported

TSMC evacuates staff at its factories, all of whom are reported safe.

TAIPEI, Taiwan — A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck a mountainous region of southern Taiwan early Tuesday near Chiayi city, according to the island's weather administration. While there were reports of minor damage, no major casualties have been reported.

The earthquake, which struck just after midnight, was centered in Dapu township in Chiayi County and had a depth of 6 miles. The tremor was felt in the capital, Taipei, and also caused brief panic in southern Taiwan.

Leading chipmaker TSMC, which operates factories in both central and southern Taiwan, confirmed that it had evacuated its staff as a precaution. Fortunately, all employees are accounted for and safe.

In the city of Tainan, the fire department reported that a few people were trapped in damaged buildings. Some have already been rescued, and authorities are continuing their efforts to assist those affected.

The Tainan Science Park, home to key industrial facilities including TSMC, also initiated evacuations from its buildings as a safety measure.

Taiwan, located near the meeting point of two tectonic plates, is highly susceptible to earthquakes. In 1906, the Meishan earthquake near Chiayi killed over 1,200 people, and the island's last significant earthquake occurred in April, with a 7.2 magnitude quake in Hualien County that claimed 13 lives.

The island also faced devastating quakes in 2016 and 1999. The 2016 tremor in southern Taiwan killed more than 100 people, and the powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake in 1999 resulted in over 2,000 fatalities.