TSMC Completes JASM Facility Check After Kumamoto M7.1 Quake: Power and Water Normal, Equipment Recalibration Underway

What was the magnitude, timing, and aftershock pattern of the Kumamoto earthquake?

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto, Japan at around 4 p.m. on July 28, 2026, according to a report by Liberty Times Net (自由時報電子報) [E1]. The same report, along with a follow-up article from Cnyes.com (鉅亨網), noted that the initial quake was followed by multiple aftershocks of comparable scale, with the TSMC (台積電) JASM (Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing) fab site recording a maximum seismic intensity of 5 [E5][E9].

How did JASM handle personnel evacuation and building safety checks?

TSMC stated that personnel safety was its top priority. Per its internal procedures, JASM activated safety measures and evacuated personnel immediately when the earthquake struck. TSMC subsequently completed a post-quake structural damage inspection of the JASM facility buildings and confirmed that both the building structure and all personnel were safe, according to both Liberty Times Net and Cnyes.com [E6][E9].

Are JASM's power, water, and safety systems operating normally?

On July 29, TSMC said the JASM site's water supply, electricity, and industrial safety systems are all operating normally, and that equipment-related checks and calibration work are continuing, as reported by Liberty Times Net [E2]. Cnyes.com corroborated the same statement, citing TSMC directly on the status of power, water, and safety systems [E7].

What is the status of equipment recalibration and raw material supply?

TSMC said that because the shaking at the site was relatively strong, production equipment will need a certain amount of time to be adjusted and recalibrated. The company said it has already dispatched resources to support this recalibration process, and that raw material supply to JASM is currently unaffected, per Liberty Times Net's report of TSMC's statement [E3]. Cnyes.com's article carried the identical statement from TSMC, confirming the recalibration timeline and unaffected material supply [E7].

Was the JASM construction site affected, and has work resumed?

According to Liberty Times Net, the JASM construction site — where building work is still underway — was not affected by the earthquake. After confirming the site was safe, construction resumed on the same day, July 29 [E4]. Cnyes.com reported the identical detail, noting the construction site was unaffected and had already resumed work after the safety confirmation [E8].

What response measures has TSMC taken, and how is it communicating with customers?

TSMC said that following its internal assessment, it has dispatched resources to support JASM and is conducting a comprehensive review of the earthquake's impact, while maintaining close communication with customers, according to Cnyes.com [E8]. This response sits alongside the equipment recalibration effort and resource support already described by Liberty Times Net [E3], and the personnel-safety-first approach confirmed in both outlets' reporting [E6].

Key figures at a glance

What this means

The two outlets' reporting is consistent on every point checked: the same magnitude-7.1 quake and intensity-5 aftershock reading at JASM [E1][E5][E9], the same July 29 TSMC statement on normal power, water, and safety systems [E2][E7], and the same account of resumed construction after a safety check [E4][E8]. The one area still in progress, by TSMC's own account, is production equipment — while infrastructure and the construction site are already back to normal, equipment calibration is explicitly described as still underway and requiring further time, with resources already dispatched to support that process [E3][E7].