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| Five people killed and eight injured in balcony collapse at party in California | Five people killed and eight injured in balcony collapse at party in California |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Five Irish people have been killed and eight other Irish citizens injured after a balcony collapsed in Berkeley, California, authorities said. | Five Irish people have been killed and eight other Irish citizens injured after a balcony collapsed in Berkeley, California, authorities said. |
| Dublin’s foreign minister Charlie Flanagan confirmed all five of the dead were Irish. In a statement on the Irish government’s official website, Flanagan said: “It is with great sadness that I can confirm five Irish students have lost their lives in California.” | Dublin’s foreign minister Charlie Flanagan confirmed all five of the dead were Irish. In a statement on the Irish government’s official website, Flanagan said: “It is with great sadness that I can confirm five Irish students have lost their lives in California.” |
| Police received a call about the incident shortly before 1am local time. Officers found that the balcony on the fourth floor of the Library Gardens apartment complex collapsed. | Police received a call about the incident shortly before 1am local time. Officers found that the balcony on the fourth floor of the Library Gardens apartment complex collapsed. |
| 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 said to be among the injured. | Police said many of the wounded had critical, life-threatening injuries. A number of Irish people were 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 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. |
| Flanagan said four died at the scene and one in a hospital. | Flanagan said four died at the scene and one in a hospital. |
| Police are investigating what could have caused the collapse and are in contact with the building’s owner, Berkeley police told the San Francisco Chronicle. | Police are investigating what could have caused the collapse and are in contact with the building’s owner, Berkeley police told the San Francisco Chronicle. |
| The Irish foreign minister 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 Irish foreign minister 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. |
| Irish citizens working on J1 visas in the San Francisco-area have been advised to contact their families and friends to let them know that they are safe. | Irish citizens working on J1 visas in the San Francisco-area have been advised to contact their families and friends to let them know that they are safe. |
| 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. |
| “I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to be there when it fell,” said Sarah, a 23-year-old master’s student at the University of California, Berkeley, who had briefly attended the party to celebrate the 21st birthday of a friend. | |
| “To think we were all there smiling and having a good time and now faced with this is horrible,” she added. | |
| One witness to the incident said that it sounded like a massive explosion. | |
| “I can’t even tell you how much fear went through my body when I heard it happen,” the bystander said, who was just down the street when the balcony collapse. “It was like a bomb or something went off. We all were so scared. And then we saw what had happened. It is heartbreaking.” | |
| Dan Sullivan, 21, a student from UCD who had been in the US for less than three weeks and was living on the first floor of the Library Gardens housing complex where the incident occurred, told Inside Bay Area News: “We just heard a bang in the middle of night and shouting ... It’s just a shocker. It’s crazy.” | |
| 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. | 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 all of the families involved and I have asked to be kept informed as further details emerge.” | “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 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, said: “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.” | Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister, said: “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.” |
| The leader of Ireland’s Catholics, Archbishop Eamon Martin, expressed his shock and sadness over the events in Berkeley. | |
| The archbishop said: “This devastating news will be felt by Irish people everywhere, and particularly by those who have family and friends abroad. I pray that the eight injured students will fully recover from this terrible accident. | |
| “The death of a child or young person is the worst news that a parent can receive. At this profoundly painful time I pray for those who have died, and ask also for prayerful support for their grieving families, fellow students and loved ones.” | |
| • 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. |