SYDNEY — As of January 3rd in the two most populous states of New South Wales and Victoria in Australia had a total of 18 people dead and 28 missing with more than 1,500 homes and buildings being destroyed in the continued fires.
The conditions of the wildfires were expected to get worse during the weekend, reports say.
Many celebrities have decided to pitch in and donate as well as bring awareness to the issue in Australia including American pop singer Pink.
Pink says she is donating $500,000 to help fight the deadly wildfires that have devastated parts of Australia.
“I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires,” Pink tweeted Saturday to her 32.2 million Twitter followers. “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.”
The death toll in the wildfire crisis is now up to 23 people. The fires are expected to be particularly fierce throughout the weekend.
The wildfires, which have been raging since September, have already burned about 5 million hectares (12.35 million acres) of land and destroyed more than 1,500 homes.
Other celebrities including Selena Gomez and Celeste Barber has also been working to raise awareness of the fires going on in Australia as well as donating.
Top American NBA Prospect LaMelo Ball stated that he would donate some of his salary from the National Basketball League’s Illawarra Hawks to the victims of the wildfires.
“It’s sad to see what is happening on the south coast of Australia,” Ball said in a statement Friday. “People have lost their homes and everything they own. My parents taught me to help out wherever I can, so this is my way of helping out.”
Other celebrities working to bring awareness are Iggy Azalea, Naomi Watts, Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe.
