Apple Inc has donated 7 million yuan ($1 million) to the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, lending a hand to the flood relief efforts being made in southern China.

The foundation announced on Monday that Apple became the first US company donating money for the flood relief, saying it would work closely with the California-based company to support the disaster relief and reconstruction efforts.

Apple said in a statement that it was saddened by the losses caused by the widespread flooding along the Yangtze River and would help with the continuing relief efforts, including supplying food and rebuilding damaged schools.

"Our thoughts are with all those devastated by the flooding along the Yangtze River," Apple's CEO Tim Cook said on his official Weibo on Monday.

On the same day, local businessmen originating from Hubei province donated more than 14 million yuan to their hometowns to help the battle with China's worst flood in recent years.

These included Taikang Life Insurance Co. Ltd's CEO Chen Dongsheng, Xiaomi's CEO Lei Jun, Qihoo 360's CEO and China Equity Group Inc's CEO Wang Chaoyong.

Previously Xiaomi's Lei Jun said on Weibo that he would offer Wuhan, Hubei province, 550,000 emergency supplies, including LED lights.

The Yangtze River Region suffered heavy rainfall and floods from late June. The flooding has so far affected more than 49 million people in 625 cities and towns in 10 provinces, including Hubei, Anhui, Hunan, Jiangxi and Chongqing, according to reports from Xinhua News Agency.

An estimated 161 people have been killed, 61 are missing and 110,000 buildings have collapsed.