An apartment balcony has collapsed during a birthday party attended by Irish students in the California city of Berkeley early Tuesday, killing six of the 13 people who fell from the fourth-floor structure, officials said.
Those who fell from the balcony at the Library Gardens Apartments were all Irish citizens and "for the most part students" with short-term work visas, gathered in an apartment to celebrate someone's 21st birthday, Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said Tuesday.
Besides those who died, at least seven were taken to hospitals with serious injuries after the balcony gave way at about 12:40 a.m., Berkeley police Officer Byron White told CNN.
It wasn't immediately clear what caused the balcony to collapse, Berkeley police spokeswoman Jennifer Coats said.
The balcony appeared to have torn away from the rest of the building. Hours after the collapse.,
Among the debris on the ground: Smashed pieces of the balcony's concrete floor, a plastic cup and a shoe.
