Asia/Pacific

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

Award-winning singer Pink has pledged half a million dollars to the ongoing fight in Australia to stop the deadly bush fires that have raged since late last year.

“I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires,” Pink tweeted early Saturday morning. “I am pledging a donation of $500,000 directly to the local fire services that are battling so hard on the frontlines.”

The singer’s donation comes as 12 more people died because of the fires this week, bringing the death toll to 23. In addition to the human deaths, millions of animals have been killed by the fires.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Saturday that 3,000 army reservists were being called into action to help with evacuations and to fight the bush fires.

The fires show the potential to wipe out species, with Australia’s koala population among those hardest hit.