Mark LaPedus , Peter Clarke, EETimes
3/11/2011 11:29 AM EST
LONDON – It is still hard to find out the state of a number of wafer fabs in the prefectures closest to the massive earthquake, and resulting tsunami that hit Japan Friday (March 11).
Normally factories, which are built to withstand earthquakes in the area, suffer little damage and the worst that happens is a loss of work in progress. However, the magnitude of the quake--which measured 8.9 on the Richter scale--may have been significant enough to damage factories. Re-establishing electricity and water supplies and transportation links may take many days.