Apple vs. Samsung: Rivals Raise $32 Million for China Earthquake Relief

A devastating earthquake in China has brought several tech companies together and raised millions in relief efforts.

According to China's earthquake administration, a magnitude 7.0 struck hard for the Baoxing and Lushan counties last Saturday. The Xinhua News Agency reported 186 people are dead and approximately 11,400 are injured. The quake occurred along the same seismic fault as the Sichuan earthquake five years ago, which killed more than 90,000 people.

Among the tech companies making fundraising efforts are Apple and Samsung. Together, with the help of more companies, over $32 million was raised.

The South Korean-based Samsung has a division in China, and they have pledged about $9.7 million.

"China Samsung always with the Chinese people through thick and thin, to tide over the difficulties," said China Samsung President Zhang Yuanji on the company's Sina Weibo website.

Apple, meanwhile, promised $8 million.

According to a statement to Sina Tech, Apple stated, "At this difficult time, our hearts are with the victims of the Sichuan earthquake. Aside from the cash donation to help the affected people to tide over their difficulties, we are committed to providing new Apple devices to schools in the disaster area, and Apple employees in the locality are on stand-by at any time to help."

Sina Tech further noted Foxconn is pledging another $8 million, Asus with $485,000, Dell China $323,000, and Microsoft China with $161,000.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated he is "deeply saddened by the loss of life, injuries and destruction caused by the earthquake and aftershocks."

"The secretary-general extends his sincere condolences to the Chinese government and people," said a statement issued by the Secretary General's spokesman. "He expresses his deepest sympathies in particular to those who have lost loved ones or been otherwise affected by this disaster."

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