Five Irish students killed as 4th-floor balcony collapses during party

Five Irish students have been killed and eight others injured after a balcony collapsed at an apartment building in Berkeley, California. A 21st birthday party was taking place in the apartment when the fourth-floor balcony collapsed, causing those on it to fall about 40ft (12.2m) to the ground. The balcony fell on to a footpath from the top of the building shortly after midnight local time. Four of the students died at the scene, while the other died later in hospital.

It’s an appalling tragedy, an appalling loss of life for young people whose hopes and dreams of the future have suddenly and without notice been shattered.

Officer Jennifer Coats, of the Berkeley Police Department

Pictures from the scene showed that the balcony appeared to have broken off from the building and partly landed on the balcony below it, as well as in the street. Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said he believes a number of other injured students - between eight and nine - are all Irish students. Officer Jennifer Coats, of the Berkeley Police Department, said many of the injured have critical, life-threatening injuries. She said officers were alerted shortly after 1am and found the balcony on Kittredge Street had collapsed.

I have heard with the greatest sadness of the terrible loss of life of young Irish people and the critical injury of others in Berkeley, California, today. My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of all those involved.

Irish President Michael D Higgins

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