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| Five dead in California balcony collapse | Five dead in California balcony collapse |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Five people were killed on Tuesday and eight others injured after a balcony collapsed in Berkeley, California, authorities said. | |
| The Irish foreign ministry in Dublin said all five of those killed may have been young Irish citizens. | |
| Police received a call about the incident shortly before 1am local time on Tuesday. Officers arriving on the scene found that the balcony on the fourth floor of an apartment building on Kittredge Street had collapsed, the Associated Press reported. | |
| Breaking News as balcony collapse kills 5 and 8 others injured. Berkeley California. 4th floor of 4 story building pic.twitter.com/xQauqHlpqH | Breaking News as balcony collapse kills 5 and 8 others injured. Berkeley California. 4th floor of 4 story building pic.twitter.com/xQauqHlpqH |
| Police said many of the wounded had critical, life-threatening injuries. A number of Irish people were also also said to be among the injured. | |
| The area where the accident took place is traditionally popular with Irish students, whose specialist visas allow them to work legally in the US over the summer. | |
| The Irish foreign minister, Charlie Flanagan, said: “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 balcony in Berkeley, California, earlier today.” | The Irish foreign minister, Charlie Flanagan, said: “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 balcony in Berkeley, California, earlier today.” |
| Flanagan said he believed all five of those killed were Irish. He said four died at the scene and one in a hospital. | |
| Flanagan said he understood the balcony collapse happened as a birthday party was taking place. A number of the dead students’ families had been contacted by the Department of Foreign Affairs, he said. | |
| The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin said the head of the Irish consulate in San Francisco, Philip Grant, was in Berkeley working with authorities to establish the number of Irish casualties. | The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin said the head of the Irish consulate in San Francisco, Philip Grant, was in Berkeley working with authorities to establish the number of Irish casualties. |
| The Union of Students in Ireland expressed its sympathy for those who died. | The Union of Students in Ireland expressed its sympathy for those who died. |
| Officer Jennifer Coats, of the Berkeley police department, said officers were still investigating at the scene. There were no further details on how the incident occurred. | Officer Jennifer Coats, of the Berkeley police department, said officers were still investigating at the scene. There were no further details on how the incident occurred. |
| On a state visit to Italy today, Ireland’s president Michael D Higgins sent a message of condolence. | |
| “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,” he said. | |
| “My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of all those involved. I have been informed of the consular assistance being provided to assist all of the families involved and I have asked to be kept informed as further details emerge.” | |
| Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister, added his sympathies over the tragedy. | |
| “Shocking news of the deaths of several young Irish people in a tragic accident in California. My heart and sympathy goes out to their families,” he said. | |
| • A helpline for Irish families concerned about relatives in Berkeley has been set up at +353 1 418 0200. | • A helpline for Irish families concerned about relatives in Berkeley has been set up at +353 1 418 0200. |