Kumamoto earthquake halts semiconductor and auto production in southern Japan

The magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Kumamoto prefecture in southern Japan on Tuesday 28 July 2026 has halted semiconductor and automotive production in the industrial hub. According to Nikkei Asia, the quake registered upper 5 out of 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale in Kikuyo, where TSMC's JASM plant is located. A TSMC spokesperson said on Wednesday that post-quake inspections had confirmed the structure was safe and that water, power and workplace safety systems were functioning normally, but that the company needs time for equipment inspections and calibrations.

Renesas said it suspended operations at its Kawashiri and Nishiki factories after finding wall cracks, fallen ceiling panels and water leakage, with no employee injuries reported. Sony and Renesas have both paused semiconductor production in the region with no restart date set. Toyota said it would halt three plants in Fukuoka Prefecture from Wednesday evening through Friday, and would decide on Friday whether to restart production from 3 August.

As of 07:00 on Wednesday, about 36,900 households were without power, some 84,000 without water and roughly 9,500 without gas, while all Kyushu Shinkansen services were suspended between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo stations. The Associated Press put the death toll at 18 as of Wednesday, with 62 people injured.