7.1-Magnitude Earthquake in Kumamoto Raises Risk to Semiconductor Supply Chain

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture at 4:27 p. m. local time on July 28, 2026, with its epicenter at 32.6 degrees north latitude and 130.7 degrees east longitude, at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers. The maximum seismic intensity observed in Kumamoto Prefecture reached the highest level on the Japan Meteorological Agency scale — intensity 7. Multiple aftershocks followed, including one of magnitude 6.1.

The earthquake has killed at least 13 people, injured dozens, and left several missing. The Hikawa-cho Yatsushiro Northern Regional Medical Center reported that at least 50 injured people had been taken to hospital as of 6:00 p. on July 28. Kyushu Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Company said more than 48,000 households in Kumamoto Prefecture lost power, and water supplies were cut in many areas. The Kyushu Shinkansen and all conventional railway lines suspended operations, Kumamoto Airport closed its runways and halted all takeoffs and landings. Sections of elevated expressways on the Kyushu Expressway collapsed or buckled, and parts of Kumamoto Castle's walls crumbled.

As of July 29, two people were confirmed dead inside a shopping mall, one was in cardiopulmonary arrest, and 10 were unaccounted for. A chimney at a Nippon Paper Group factory in Yatsushiro City collapsed, trapping 11 people; two were rescued in cardiopulmonary arrest, and nine remained missing. Kumamoto Prefectural Police confirmed at least a dozen houses had collapsed and multiple people were trapped.

The semiconductor industry was affected. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, evacuated employees from its plant in Kikuyo-cho, Kumamoto, after the earthquake intensity reached 5-strong, triggering evacuation protocols. TSMC said it was assessing the situation; the extent of damage or disruption to its facilities was unclear. Sony also evacuated employees from its factory in the same area and conducted inspections. Horiba, a major producer of semiconductor gas and liquid flow control equipment, halted operations at its Aso plant, and it was uncertain whether production could resume after July 29. Shin-Etsu Chemical, Tokyo Ohka Kogyo, and other semiconductor materials manufacturers in and around Kumamoto reported no major losses.

The Kyushu region, known as "Silicon Island," is a key production base for Japan's semiconductor and related industries, accounting for more than half of the nation's semiconductor output. According to the Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, from April 2021 to June 2024, Kyushu attracted 100 semiconductor-related investment projects, 52 of which were in Kumamoto Prefecture. Kumamoto's semiconductor supply chain covers wafer fabrication, chip design, packaging and testing, equipment, and materials, hosting not only TSMC but also Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing, Mitsubishi Electric, Tokyo Electron, Renesas Electronics, Fujifilm, and many others.

On nuclear safety, Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed no abnormalities at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima Prefecture, the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant in Saga Prefecture, or the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant in Ehime Prefecture. The Japanese government convened an emergency response team, and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she was assessing casualties and property damage, emphasizing that all resources would be mobilized for rescue operations and that food, drinking water, and other necessities would be delivered to evacuation centers. More than 60,000 people in Kumamoto, Nagasaki, and Fukuoka prefectures received evacuation orders.

In Taiwan, President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, and Premier Cho Jung-tai each personally donated 200,000 New Taiwan dollars for disaster relief. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a donation of 5 million New Taiwan dollars for Japan's post-disaster reconstruction. Kuomintang Chairperson Zheng Liwen said she personally donated 1 million New Taiwan dollars to support the affected areas.