Apple late Tuesday said it would investigate the recent rise in suicides at Foxconn, one of the company’s manufacturing partners. “We are in direct contact with Foxconn senior management and we believe they are taking this matter very seriously,” said Apple in the statement. “A team from Apple is independently evaluating the steps they are taking to address these tragic events and we will continue our ongoing inspections of the facilities where our products are made.”

Foxconn employs over 400,000 workers in its facilities that make products for Apple and many other global electronic brands. So far, 9 workers have died this year from falls — two workers survived their apparent suicide attempts.

Apple said it was “saddened and upset by the recent suicides.”