A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck southern Taiwan early Tuesday morning, centered near the mountainous, rural area of Chiayi city, the island's weather administration reported. The earthquake caused minor damage, with buildings shaking as far away as the capital, Taipei.
The quake, which hit just after midnight, had a depth of 9.4 km (6 miles) with its epicenter located in Dapu township, Chiayi County. In response, major chipmaker TSMC evacuated staff from its factories in central and southern Taiwan. The company confirmed all employees were safe.
The local fire department reported that a few people were trapped in damaged buildings in the city of Tainan, though many had already been rescued. In Chiayi, authorities said there were no major casualties, but power outages and some building damage were reported. Dapu's fire department stated there were no "obvious signs of disaster."
In Tainan's science park, which houses key factories, including TSMC, buildings were evacuated as a precaution.
Taiwan lies at the junction of two tectonic plates, making it prone to earthquakes. In 1906, the Meishan earthquake near Chiayi killed over 1,200 people. The island's most recent major quake, a 7.2 magnitude temblor in April 2024, struck Hualien on the east coast, killing 13. A devastating 7.3 magnitude quake in 1999 killed over 2,000 people, while a 2016 earthquake in southern Taiwan claimed more than 100 lives.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
