‘Rotten beams’ to blame for balcony collapse that killed six students

The balcony collapse that killed six students appears to have been caused by rotten wooden beams, Berkeley’s mayor has said. Five 21-year-olds from Ireland were killed, along with a 22-year-old Irish-American woman from California. Another seven people were injured, some critically, and remain in hospital. Mayor Tom Bates said investigators believe the wood was not sealed properly at the time of construction and was damaged by moisture as a result. He said that appears to be the main cause of the tragedy.

More than likely, it was caused by rain and water damage that was caused to the support beams.

Mayor Tom Bates said of the investigation into the balcony collapse.

Berkeley building inspectors also determined another balcony at the apartment building was “structurally unsafe and presented a collapse hazard”, and ordered it demolished. Two other balconies in the building were declared off-limits. Darrick Hom, president of the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California, visited the site of the collapse and said he noticed the broken wooden beams under the balcony were crumbling in the hands of investigating engineers.

That wood was decayed or had some serious deterioration to the point where they could touch it with their hands and it was coming off in chunks in their hands.

Darrick Hom, President of Structural Engineers Association

World Balcony death