TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC, 台積電) Chiayi construction site experienced severe flooding Monday (July 28) after more than 370 millimeters (14.6 inches) of rain fell between early morning and 9:40 a.m. Chiayi County authorities suspended work and classes across the region, with only essential personnel remaining on-site of the AP7 advanced packaging facility in Chiayi to monitor the deteriorating conditions. The flooding represents a significant disruption to the world's largest contract chipmaker's expansion plans.
Torrential rainfall from the early morning hours severely impacted multiple towns across Chiayi County, including Taibao (太保), Lioujiao (六腳), Lucao (鹿草), Puzi (朴子), Shuishang (水上), and Xingang (新港). Each town recorded over 300 millimeters (11.8 inches) of precipitation. Roads surrounding the Chiayi Science Park (嘉義科學園區) became completely waterlogged, forcing numerous vehicles to retreat from the dangerous submerged areas.
Social media platforms circulated dramatic images of the flooding at TSMC's construction site, vividly illustrating the severity of the unprecedented weather conditions. The semiconductor giant confirmed that its AP7 facility was also shut down, with only standby personnel remaining on-site for safety monitoring. TSMC assured stakeholders that company officials would reassess the flooding situation and determine appropriate next steps for operations. ◼