DISASTERS
Taiwan hit by biggest earthquake in 25 years
April 3, 2024 - A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan’s eastern coast, felling more than two dozen buildings and triggering tsunami warnings in Japan and the Philippines.
Semiconductor giant TSMC and other local competitors evacuated fabrication plants amid fears that the quake could hit global supplies. The factories are extremely vulnerable to earthquakes; a single vibration can destroy entire batches of the precision-made chips.
Taiwan dominates the global production of advanced semiconductors and despite expansion projects in the U.S., Europe, and Japan, following Covid shutdowns that affected production of everything from cars to iPhones, fabrication remains centred on the island.