Apple's iTunes reopens American Red Cross donations for Japan, Ecuador earthquake relief

After a pair of massive earthquakes rocked Japan and Ecuador last week, and the threat of aftershocks still present, Apple on Thursday reactivated its iTunes donation system to support American Red Cross relief efforts in the regions.

As it has done with past international disasters, Apple added an American Red Cross link and card to the main iTunes store page. Clicking through will take users to a special page accepting gifts in $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or $200 denominations.

Those who choose to donate through iTunes will see 100 percent of proceeds go directly to Red Cross, though the organization is unable to further recognize contributions as Apple does not pass along personal donor information.

Last Thursday a magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit Kumamoto and Oita Prefectures in southwest Japan, an event followed by a larger magnitude 7.3 tremor one day later. A total of 48 deaths have been attributed to the two quakes, which were accompanied by more than 680 aftershocks felt throughout the region, Reuters reports.

While Japan has for decades made efforts to bolster its infrastructure against an imminent earthquake threat, Ecuador has not. On Saturday, a magnitude 7.8 quake wreaked havoc on the South American nation, leaving a trail of destruction in heavily populated coastal areas like Manabi Province. CNN reports Ecuador's Risk Management Office has tallied at least 570 deaths as of Wednesday.