Shawn Mendes starts relief campaign for Mexico

Mendes at the 2017 MTV awards. PHOTO: REUTERS

NEW YORK (AFP) - Pop star Shawn Mendes on Friday (Sept 22) announced a US$100,000 (S$134,000) donation for earthquake-hit Mexico as he urged fans to open their wallets for relief efforts.

The 19-year-old Canadian singer was in Mexico City preparing to perform the following day when the 7.1-magnitude tremor struck on Tuesday, killing nearly 300 people.

"While I cancelled my concert out of respect and for safety, being there during this tragedy and seeing the devastation firsthand made me want to do whatever I could to help those impacted by this tragedy," he wrote on a fund-raising page where he invited fans to contribute.

His appeal came after US celebrities rushed to support victims at home of hurricanes Harvey and Irma, including through a nationally televised telethon that raised US$55 million.

Mendes, best known for his hits Treat You Better and Stitches, said proceeds from his initiative would go to the American Red Cross which is working with counterparts in Mexico.

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