Following the major earthquake that killed 615 people and renders thousands more homeless, Yunnan Province on August 3, Apple has made a donation of $1.6 million (10 million Yuan) for earthquake-relief efforts in the area.
The earthquake was the most powerful to hit the province in 14 years, and struck Zhaotong city hardest. Apple CEO also sent an email to company employees expressing “deepest sympathies” to those affected by the disastrous earthquake.
You can find Tim Cook’s internal memo sent to employees below, as shared by internal sources with 9to5Mac:
Team,
Our deepest sympathies go out to the people of China’s Yunnan Province, which was struck by a devastating 6.5-magnitude earthquake over the weekend. Nearly 600 people died and over 2400 were injured in the worst earthquake to hit the region in 100 years. Rescuers have evacuated 230,000 people who are now displaced from their homes. The road to Longtoushan Township, the epicenter of the quake, has been blocked by landslides, making the rescue effort there even more challenging. Apple is eager to help. We are making a financial donation in support of the work of Mercy Corps and CFPA (China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation) to get supplies and relief to those affected by the earthquake and to help them through the process of healing and recovery. The tragedy in Yunnan Province is on the minds of many in the Apple community. Apple has over 6500 employees in China and Hong Kong as well as a growing developer community and deep ties to the workers in our supply chain who make Apple products. In this time of tragedy, our thoughts are with the victims and their families.
Tim
Apple has also updated its official Chinese website to express its condolences to the families of the victims.
This isn’t the first time Apple has made donations in China for families affected by earthquakes. A year ago Apple donated 50 million Yuan to those affected by the Ya’an earthquake in Sichuan Province.
