Taiwan Media: "Entire Island Shaken by Earthquake"... TSMC Employees Evacuate Urgently

A magnitude 7.3 strong earthquake occurred off the coast of Hualien County, Taiwan, prompting the world's largest foundry company, TSMC, to urgently evacuate its employees. The earthquake was felt as far as Fujian and Guangdong provinces in mainland China, and China's Ministry of Natural Resources issued a tsunami warning.

Collapsed building due to earthquake in Hualien, eastern Taiwan
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

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The China Earthquake Networks Center announced on the morning of the 3rd at 7:58 AM that a magnitude 7.3 strong earthquake struck off the coast of Hualien County, Taiwan. The depth of the epicenter was observed at 20 km. The earthquake occurred about 7 km away from Hualien, a city with a population of 350,000 in eastern Taiwan. Subsequently, at 8:11 AM, a magnitude 6.0 aftershock occurred off the coast of Hualien County, Taiwan, with the epicenter depth observed at 10 km.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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A TSMC spokesperson stated that some employees were evacuated from the production line, but the specific damage or its extent has not yet been confirmed.

According to local Taiwanese media such as United Daily News, the earthquake was detected across Taiwan for about one minute, causing numerous damages including the collapse or tilting of some buildings and structures. All lines of the Kaohsiung MRT and light rail were suspended, and safety inspections were scheduled.

China Central Television (CCTV) reported that the earthquake was felt in mainland Chinese cities including Xiamen, Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou in Fujian Province, Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province, and Taizhou. The Tsunami Warning Center under China's Ministry of Natural Resources assessed, based on seismic variables, that a localized tsunami could occur near the epicenter. Accordingly, the center issued a Level 1 tsunami warning (red alert).

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