TSMC evacuates employees following earthquakes

Taipei, Jan. 21 (CNA) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, evacuated its employees from several factories in central and southern Taiwan following a string of earthquakes that shook the country early Tuesday morning.

In a statement, TSMC said the evacuations were carried out at its facilities in the Central Taiwan Science Park in Taichung and Southern Taiwan Science Park in Tainan as part of its emergency response procedures.

The company confirmed that all employees at the affected sites are safe.

Meanwhile, the Southern Taiwan Science Park Bureau reported that machines at major facilities in the park were shut down as a precaution following the quakes. Employees were evacuated, and no injuries have been reported, according to the bureau.

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit Chiayi County in southern Taiwan at 12:17 a.m. Tuesday. As of 3:30 a.m., nearly 50 aftershocks had been recorded, primarily in Tainan's Nanxi and Nanhua districts, with the largest measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

(Chang Chien-chung and Christie Chen)Enditem/