Taiwan's quake-hit eastern county of Hualien was rattled by more than 200 aftershocks, but only minor damage was reported and no casualties and major chipmaker TSMC said it saw no impact on operations.

Taipei

Taiwan's eastern county of Hualien, already reeling from a significant earthquake earlier this month, was subject to over 200 aftershocks recently. These aftershocks have led to further damage, exacerbating the plight of buildings that were already compromised. Despite the severity of these aftershocks, which included a quake of magnitude 6.3, only minor structural damages were reported without any casualties.

The initial earthquake, a 7.2 magnitude tremor, struck the largely rural and sparsely populated area of Hualien, claiming at least 17 lives. Since then, the region has been on high alert, with the recent aftershocks causing additional concern as several previously damaged buildings are now leaning more severely. However, these buildings had been evacuated and remained empty, preventing any loss of life from the recent seismic activities.

In response to the seismic activity, TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, evacuated some employees from its factories located on Taiwan's west coast as a precaution. Despite these measures, TSMC announced that it anticipates no impact on its operations from the aftershocks. This announcement is significant given the global reliance on TSMC for semiconductor manufacturing.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has urged the public to stay alert but not to panic in light of the ongoing aftershocks. Her call to calm was aimed at reassuring the residents of Taiwan as the government and emergency services continue to manage the situation. The emphasis remains on safety and preparedness as the island deals with the aftermath of these natural events.



Dozens of aftershocks rattle Taiwan overnight

More than 200 aftershocks have shaken Hualien, the eastern part of Taiwan, that was hit hard by the island's big quake on April 3. The new shaking started Monday and ran through the night, causing previously damaged buildings to tilt further. Several were left leaning badly, but there were no reports of casualties. The affected buildings have been left empty since the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the largely rural and sparsely populated area earlier this month, killing at least 17 people. Elsewhere on the island, including in the capital Taipei, buildings sweeped throughout the night, with the largest of the many quakes registering a 6.3 magnitude. The world's largest contract chipmaker TSMC, meanwhile, evacuated some staff from factories on the island's west coast. It said in a statement that it does not expect any impact on operations. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on her Facebook page called on people to stay alert and not to panic in the event of more earthquakes.

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