5 Students Die In Balcony Collapse

16 Jun, 2015

Five Irish students have been killed, and as many as nine others have been injured, when a fourth-floor balcony in California gave way.

Police found debris on the street below after an emergency call at 01:00 local time in Berkeley.

The students are believed to have been holding a birthday party at the time, Irish officials said, but the cause of collapse is unknown.

They were believed to be in the US on temporary worker visas.

Photos taken at the scene appear to show a balcony on the fourth floor of the building fallen to the balcony on the floor below.

Many of those hurt have life-threatening injuries, said Jennifer Coats, a Berkeley Police Department spokeswoman.

Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said that four of the victims died at the scene and another died in hospital.

Police received a complaint about loud noise at the flat about an hour before the balcony collapsed, but did not go to the building to investigate, they said.

Five Irish students have been killed, and as many as nine others have been injured, when a fourth-floor balcony in California gave way.

Police found debris on the street below after an emergency call at 01:00 local time in Berkeley.

The students are believed to have been holding a birthday party at the time, Irish officials said, but the cause of collapse is unknown.

They were believed to be in the US on temporary worker visas.

Photos taken at the scene appear to show a balcony on the fourth floor of the building fallen to the balcony on the floor below.

Many of those hurt have life-threatening injuries, said Jennifer Coats, a Berkeley Police Department spokeswoman.

Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said that four of the victims died at the scene and another died in hospital.

Police received a complaint about loud noise at the flat about an hour before the balcony collapsed, but did not go to the building to investigate, they said.

Reuters

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