Quake disrupts car production

Toyota and Nissan have been assessing the impact of a deadly 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck south-western Japan, knocking out power and damaging roads, bridges and buildings.

The tremor hit the Kumamoto region of the southern island of Kyushu about 4.30pm local time on July 28 and triggered a tsunami warning, but this was lifted within two hours.

As a result, Toyota put a hold on Lexus production and Nissan was evaluating its operations as both companies have manufacturing hubs in the northern part of Kyushu, about 150km from the quake’s epicentre.

Toyota suspended second-shift operations at its Lexus assembly plant, pictured,, its Kanda engine plant and its Kokura hybrid powertrain plant in the region, reports Automotive News.

A company spokesman says the decision was made because of the impact of the earthquake, “considering safety, logistics, and supplier status”.

Toyota hoped to restart production work on July 29, pending evaluation of any impact on logistics or suppliers and the quake aftermath.

Toyota and Nissan say they had received no reports of injuries or major damage.

Nissan adds it has been able to continue production as planned but was monitoring the situation.

Carmakers are wary about the impact of earthquakes because even if their assembly plants suffer no direct damage, suppliers may be affected and parts delivery disrupted.

The Kyushu region features a number of businesses making powertrain and other components, notes Automotive News.

TSMC, a global chipmaker, says it evacuated workers from its plant in the area after the quake but the site was unaffected and operations were gradually resuming.

Threat remains

About 300,000 people have been instructed to go to evacuation centres and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has asked the public to “remain vigilant” for additional earthquakes.

The JMA recorded the provisional magnitude of Tuesday’s quake at 7.1 – although the US Geological Survey later put it at 6.8 – and says there have already been scores of aftershocks ranging in magnitude from one to four.

A number of buildings have collapsed or caught fire and a rescue operation is ongoing at Aeon Mall shopping centre, where at least two women have died and many more have been left trapped or injured.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says authorities are assessing the extent of the damage in the area, which was devastated by a fatal quake in 2016.