SME Editorial
Foxconn and Pegatron, two major Apple iPhone manufacturers based near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, have suspended production due to heavy rains and the impending threat of Cyclone Michaung, according to sources familiar with the matter.
In the state capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, a critical electronics and manufacturing hub, the impact of torrential rain has been substantial, causing at least two fatalities and submerging the runway of one of the country’s busiest airports. With a severe cyclone expected to make landfall within the next 24 hours, the region is grappling with the aftermath of heavy rainfall and anticipating the potential impact of the approaching storm.
Cyclone Michaung is forecasted to hit the coast of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, bringing sustained winds of 90 to 100 kilometers per hour (56 to 62 miles per hour), with gusts reaching up to 110 kilometers per hour.
Foxconn, a major employer with approximately 35,000 workers at its iPhone manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu, is yet to confirm whether production will resume on Tuesday, according to insider sources. The company has significantly expanded its operations in India by investing in manufacturing facilities in the southern part of the country.
This is the second disruption for Pegatron in recent months, following a temporary halt in iPhone assembly in September due to a factory fire. Apple has not provided an official statement on the situation, and both Foxconn and Pegatron have not responded to immediate requests for comment.
The heavy rainfall has resulted in widespread flooding in several areas of Chennai, with reports of knee-deep water in some places and power outages since Monday morning. The current conditions have triggered memories of the catastrophic floods in December 2015, which claimed the lives of around 290 people. Authorities in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are on high alert, evacuating residents from coastal areas, and issuing warnings to fishermen against venturing out to sea.
