Explosion in Taiwan's high-tech center disrupts many chip makers
A service of Semiconductor Business News, CMP Media Inc.
Story posted 3 p..m. EST/noon PST, 5/10/99
By Sandy Chen
HSINCHU, Taiwan -- An explosion on Sunday hit a power station in Taiwan's main high-technology center in Hsinchu, causing a large fire and cutting power at more than 60 electronics and semiconductor firms, according to local officials.
On May 9 at 8:30 a.m., a huge explosion of unknown origin hit a power distribution center and transformer station located in one of the older parts of the Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park--the home of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC), UMC Group, Winbond Electronics Corp., and the other major chip suppliers on the island..
According to officials, the fire was extinguished by the local fire department within three hours and electricity was up and running by 5 p.m. But the transformer station itself will take about a week before it can be fully repaired.
But due to the fire, some--though not all--of Taiwan's chip and electronics companies were hit by a power blackout. Companies affected included Winbond Electronics, Sino-American Silicon Products, Advanced Device Technology, Taiwan Memory Technology, and Vanguard International Semiconductor, among others.
TSMC and UMC were not affected by the explosion, which caused an estimated $1 million in damage.
The cause of the fire is still unclear and was under investigation, according to a spokesman of the Science Park Administration. |
