Five killed in California balcony collapse

FIVE people have died, including several Irish citizens, and eight more people are injured after an apartment balcony collapsed in the college town of Berkeley, California.
LOCAL NBC affiliate KNTV reported that many of the wounded have critical, life-threatening injures, quoting a police spokeswoman.
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 Berkeley, California earlier today (Tuesday)." Flanagan said his "heart goes out to the families and loved ones of the deceased and those who have been injured in this appalling accident". Officers received a call about the fourth-floor balcony collapse just before 1.00am on Tuesday, KNTV added. Police spokeswoman Jennifer Coats said she had no information on how the collapse occurred or the victims' identities, according to the station. Ireland's national broadcaster RTE said that the balcony collapsed during an Irish 21st birthday party. The Irish students were at a party in the apartment at a complex in Kittredge in the university city when the balcony crashed to the ground. It is not clear whether they had been studying at the college or were in the state on J1 visas, a common summer trip for young Irish people.