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cali

(114,904 posts) Tue Jun 16, 2015, 10:53 AM Jun 2015

5 Irish Students Dead, 8 Injured, Many Critically, in Berkeley Balcony Collapse

A fourth-floor balcony of a San Francisco Bay Area apartment building collapsed early Tuesday, killing five Irish students and leaving eight other people injured, officials said.

Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan told reporters in Dublin that all five of the dead were in the U.S. on temporary visas. He said a 21st birthday party was underway in the building in the university town of Berkeley at the time of the accident.

Many of the wounded have critical, life-threatening injuries, said Officer Jennifer Coats, a Berkeley police spokeswoman.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/16/berkeley-balcony-collapse_n_7593002.html

11 replies

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5 Irish Students Dead, 8 Injured, Many Critically, in Berkeley Balcony Collapse (Original Post) cali Jun 2015 OP

Irish coverage Prism Jun 2015 #1

I've lived in a number of condos and apartments over the years - it's always bullwinkle428 Jun 2015 #3

5 dead, plus 8 injured JustABozoOnThisBus Jun 2015 #4

The city of Berkeley has building codes which cover balconies. former9thward Jun 2015 #7

Apparently this is not the case in Ireland KamaAina Jun 2015 #9

This is so sad. What a fluke occurence. PufPuf23 Jun 2015 #2

Too sad malaise Jun 2015 #5

Too many folks on the balcony. Maybe a capacity sign should be posted on balconies like in lifts... winstars Jun 2015 #8

That probably wouldn't make a difference with young folks malaise Jun 2015 #10

I do not go onto balconies like that, ever. MineralMan Jun 2015 #6

That and folks falling off rails malaise Jun 2015 #11

Prism

(5,815 posts)

1. Irish coverage

Reply to cali (Original post)

Tue Jun 16, 2015, 11:03 AM

Jun 2015

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/live-irish-students-dead-tragic-5892158

http://www.thejournal.ie/berkeley-balcony-collapse-liveblog-2165000-Jun2015/

Tragic. We have a lot of Irish students come in over the summer for programs at UCB. People are incredibly torn up about it.

It's a relatively new building, so it will be interesting to see if we're dealing with negligent landlords/construction or if it was a party that simply got out of control.

I'm actually on my way over there first thing this morning (Berkeley City Hall is a block away).

Those poor families ;/

bullwinkle428

(20,631 posts)

3. I've lived in a number of condos and apartments over the years - it's always

Reply to Prism (Reply #1)

Tue Jun 16, 2015, 11:45 AM

Jun 2015

occurred to me that many of these balconies are built almost as an afterthought, with the idea that there probably wouldn't be any more than 2 or 3 people on them, along with perhaps a barbecue grill. Wouldn't be shocked at all if there were very weak (or no) building codes when it comes to balconies in many cases.

JustABozoOnThisBus

(23,387 posts)

4. 5 dead, plus 8 injured

Reply to bullwinkle428 (Reply #3)

Tue Jun 16, 2015, 12:02 PM

Jun 2015

That's 13 on the balcony. Don't know if there were any others who were not injured badly enough to hang around.

If that many people were doing something like dancing, the forces could be pretty destructive.

Unfortunate accident.

former9thward

(32,178 posts)

7. The city of Berkeley has building codes which cover balconies.

Reply to bullwinkle428 (Reply #3)

Tue Jun 16, 2015, 12:13 PM

Jun 2015

And city inspectors have to approve the project.

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/Planning_and_Development/Building_and_Safety/Building_Codes.aspx

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

9. Apparently this is not the case in Ireland

Reply to bullwinkle428 (Reply #3)

Tue Jun 16, 2015, 12:22 PM

Jun 2015

people are used to doing stuff like dancing, even on really old balconies. From the local comments section:

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Five-dead-8-hurt-in-Berkeley-balcony-collapse-6329902.php

Irish kids used to hanging out on balconies built centuries ago, likely had no idea they were in danger. Lack of police response could have been a factor. Poor kids. Poor families. You send your kids here with great hope. When they return in a casket, life snuffed out, it's a tragedy.

Meanwhile upthread, some meatball is trying to blame it on rent control!