Pink donates half a million dollars to Australian services amid wildfire crisis

By Press Association

January 4 2020, 11:07 am

Pink donates half a million dollars to Australian services amid wildfire crisis (Joe Giddens/PA)

Singer Pink has donated half a million US dollars to local fire services in Australia amid the country’s worsening wildfire crisis.

More than 20 people have died and millions of animals are believed to have been killed in the blazes that have ravaged the country in recent months.

At least eight people have died this week in New South Wales and neighbouring Victoria, Australia’s two most-populous states, where more than 200 fires are currently burning.

I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires. I am pledging a donation of $500,000 directly to the local fire services that are battling so hard on the frontlines. My heart goes out to our friends and family in Oz ❤️ pic.twitter.com/kyjDbhoXpp
— P!nk (@Pink) January 4, 2020

Pink is one of the many celebrities to have spoken out about the fires, revealing her pledge of half a million US dollars (£382,043) in a post on Twitter.

“I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires,” she wrote.

“I am pledging a donation of 500,000 dollars directly to the local fire services that are battling so hard on the frontlines. My heart goes out to our friends and family in Oz.”

Australian pop star Kylie Minogue tweeted: “Humbled by the extraordinary efforts of the emergency services and volunteers in the ongoing bushfire crisis in Australia. @redcrossau @nswrfs @CFA_Updates @CFSAlerts @WIRES_NSW.”

Humbled by the extraordinary efforts of the emergency services and volunteers in the ongoing bushfire crisis in Australia 💔@redcrossau @nswrfs @CFA_Updates @CFSAlerts @WIRES_NSW
— Kylie Minogue (@kylieminogue) January 4, 2020

Actress Naomi Watts has described the fires as “truly horrendous” in a post on Instagram, in which she shared a video taken during her last visit to Byron in New South Wales.

Watts said: “It’s so upsetting and worrying. So much wildlife already lost. And still much of the summer ahead. My heart goes out to those who’ve lost loved ones and homes.

View this post on Instagram

This was my last eve in Byron, NSW, Australia. To get a sense of how beautiful the wildlife regularly sounds… Please turn up the volume. The fires have been truly horrendous. It’s so upsetting and worrying. So much wildlife already lost. And still much of the summer ahead. My heart goes out to those who’ve lost loved ones and homes. Big gratitude to the brave firemen who literally haven’t stopped during the holidays!! 🙏 Heartbroken for all the animals, plants and land… 🙏 for rain 🌧 #tbt ❤️🇦🇺
A post shared by Naomi Watts (@naomiwatts) on Jan 2, 2020 at 9:45am PST

“Big gratitude to the brave firemen who literally haven’t stopped during the holidays!! Heartbroken for all the animals, plants and land… for rain.”

Queer Eye star Bobby Berk urged his 2.6 million Instagram followers to donate to help local services and organisations to help those affected by the fires.

He highlighted the “tens of thousands of people that are evacuating their homes” and the state of emergency in New South Wales and warned of the high temperatures and winds that could impact the existing blazes and “trigger new fires”.

View this post on Instagram

17 people and over 500 MILLION animals have been killed since the Australia Bush fires started in October – 8 of those human deaths happened this week. At least 17 other people are missing, and more than 1,200 homes and buildings have been destroyed. Tens of thousands of people are evacuating their homes and even having to take refuge in the ocean as authorities warn that the fires are likely only going to continue to get worse. The southeastern part of New South Wales, the country’s most populous state has declared a state of emergency and to the south, the state of Victoria, the second most populous declared a state of disaster. Currently, over 200 fires are burning in Australia’s southeast region. Temperatures exceeding 100°F and high winds are in the forecast for this weekend, which could strengthen existing blazers and trigger new fires. This ranks as the worst fire season in Australia’s recorded history, and the summer has barely started. “It’s going to be a blast furnace in the coming days” said the transport minister of New South Wales. I’ve put a link in my bio of organizations you can donate to to help those affected. 📷: @nytimes #australia #australianbushfires #newsouthwales #climatechange #prayforaustralia
A post shared by Bobby Berk (@bobby) on Jan 3, 2020 at 9:19am PST

“I’ve put a link in my bio of organizations you can donate to to help those affected.”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has been criticised for his response to the fires, on Saturday called up 3,000 defence force reservists as the threat of wildfires escalated.