U2 Donating Part of Mexico Concert Proceeds to Earthquake Relief Efforts

 The Irish rock band is playing two shows this week in Mexico, where a powerful Sept. 19 tremor has left at least 366 people dead and thousands displaced.

U2 has announced it will donate a portion of its Mexico City concert earnings to an emergency relief fund expected to reach some 16,000 victims affected by a devastating quake in Central Mexico last month. 

Set to play two stadium shows Tuesday and Wednesday in the Mexican capital, U2 has teamed with entertainment companies Live Nation, Ocesa and the nonprofit Cadena to provide the aid. The two Mexico shows, which kick off the Latin America leg of the Joshua Tree Tour 2017, are expected to draw an estimated 120,000 concertgoers.

Mexico is still reeling from one of its strongest quakes ever. In Mexico City alone, at least 225 people died and 38 buildings collapsed, leaving thousands homeless. The long rebuilding process in some of the hardest hit areas could take up to a year before many families can return home.

In the temblor's aftermath, promoter Ocesa has been forced to cancel more than a dozen scheduled shows, including concerts by Shawn Mendes, Ricky Martin and Tenacious D.

As relief efforts continue in Mexico City and its surrounding states, donations have come pouring in from Mexico and abroad. Diego Luna (Rogue One) and Gael Garcia Bernal (Mozart in the Jungle) formed a fund that has pulled in more than $500,000, boxer Saul "Canelo" Alvarez has donated $1 million in supplies and Salma Hayek launched a campaign that has raised more than $300,000 (including her own pledge of $100,000).

Also, singer-songwriter Mendes teamed with Red Cross on an earthquake relief campaign and Walt Disney partnered with Red Cross, UNICEF and the Save the Children Fund to donate $500,000.