Five people died, including several Irish citizens, and eight more people
were injured early Tuesday when an apartment balcony collapsed in the college
town of Berkeley, California Many of the injured have critical, life-threatening wounds, said officer Jennifer Coats, a spokeswoman with the Berkeley Police Department.
Police received a call about the incident shortly before 1 am PDT (9am BST), and when officers arrived they found that the balcony on the fourth floor of the building on Kittredge Street had disintegrated.
The area is a popular destination for students and there are reports that there was a 21st birthday party taking place in the apartment at the time.
It is believed the balcony, which was on the fourth floor, collapsed first on to the balcony below and then onto the path. The apartment complex was built less than a decade ago.
Ms Coats said officers are still investigating and she does not have any information on how it occurred or what the people were doing on the structure at the time.
Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that I confirm that a number of young Irish citizens have lost their lives while a number of others have been seriously injured following the collapse of a balcony in Berkley, California earlier today."
Mr Flanagan, who said the Irish consul general in San Francisco would be providing assistance to those affected, added that his "heart goes out to the families and loved ones of the deceased and those who have been injured in this appalling accident."
The building has apartment in the upper floors and retails shops on the ground floor.
Source- telegraph.
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