Updates: Shooting call diverted police from Berkeley balcony collapse
Families of some of the Irish students who died in a balcony collapse at a 21st birthday party have arrived in the US.
Police were called to the tragic birthday party in Berkeley less than an hour before the balcony crashed – but did not go because of a reported shooting elsewhere in the city.
A neighbour made a complaint about the noise from the fourth floor apartment at Library Gardens at 12.02am local time – eight hours behind Ireland time.
But police chief Mike Meehan said they never attended because four minutes later they were called to the scene of reported gunfire in south Berkeley. This reported incident was obviously prioritised, he said.
Once the balcony was reported collapsed, shortly after 12.40am, officers were on the scene within two minutes.
The police chief said there is no evidence of foul play or criminality at this stage of their inquiries.
Berkeley City mayor Tom Bates vowed “not to leave any rock unturned” in investigating the causes of the collapse.
He said it was a wake up call at a time when many other buildings were under construction in the city.
The property management company said the owner was an entity called Blackrock.
Inspection histories as well as other records on the building are being reviewed.
Authorities have vowed to make the records public.
UCD President Andrew Deeks has released a statement on behalf of the university, where some of those who lost their lives were students.
He's said it is "heart-breaking to imagine that such a tragedy would strike these wonderful students when their lives are opening up to discover the world."
The university is opening an online book of condolences on their website, ucd.ie, where students and others are invited to share their sympathies.
They've also made counselling and student support services available to students in San Francisco and in Dublin.
Six students who died in the US after a balcony collapsed during a 21st birthday party have been named.
6 dead in Berkeley balcony collapse include Rohnert Park's Ashley Donohoe http://t.co/TXTJ8nOTdw pic.twitter.com/dmAXyEBrEQ
— Demian Bulwa (@demianbulwa) June 16, 2015
Several of them were from south Dublin and students at the city’s University College Dublin.
They were named as Ashley Donohoe, 22, and Oliva Burke, Eoghan Culligan, Niccolai Schuster, Lorcan Miller and Eimear Walsh, who were all 21.
Irish students lay down flag at site of #BerkeleyBalconyCollapse collapse http://t.co/NUrRRw0lEE pic.twitter.com/BlhfXCVItP @IsFearrAnStar
— Scot Buchholz 🟦 (@BScotTanner) June 16, 2015
They were on a working holiday in Berkeley, California, on a summer visa scheme popular with Irish students.
Several other students were injured, some critically, in the incident on the fourth floor of an apartment complex in the college city in the early hours of this morning.
The balcony collapse saw the victims plunge about 40ft (12.2m) to the ground.
We got 500 calls re #Berkeley & are now calling families back. If you called & have since heard from your loved one, pls call us: 01-4180200
— Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) June 16, 2015
Some 700 Irish students are in the San Francisco Bay area for the summer.
The first relatives of those who died will arrive on the US west coast over the next few hours.
Philip Grant, consul general with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs in the region, said there had been an overwhelming outpouring of support locally.
“For many of my countrymen it’s a formative experience and to have this happen at the start of this season is something that has left us all frozen in shock and disbelief,” he said.
“We are a very close, tight-knit group. Ireland is a small country and when you have the numbers that we had here today very few of us have been left untouched by this tragedy.”
Ms Donohoe was from Rohnert Park, California, while the other five students - two women and three men - were from Ireland.
Mr Culligan was from Co Mayo.
Many of the students who had been attending the party were past pupils of St Mary’s College in Rathmines, south Dublin.
University College Dublin president Andrew Deeks sent a message of condolence to the family and friends of those who died.
“We cannot comprehend the desperate shock and grief they are feeling and we are heartbroken at their suffering and loss,” he said.
“Our students, like thousands of others across Ireland, head to the US each summer on J1 visas to enjoy the experience.
“It is heart-breaking to imagine that such a tragedy would strike these wonderful students when their lives are opening up to discover the world.”
All six victims of the balcony collapse have been named. They are all Irish: Ashley Donoghue, aged 22, Olivia Burke, aged 21, Eimear Walsh, aged 21, Eoghan Culligan, aged 21, Niccolai Schuster, aged 21 and Lorcan Miller, aged 21.
Ashley Donoghue, who is from from Rohnert Park, California, has dual Irish-US nationality.
An emergency response line has been opened - anyone with concerns about friends or family in the region, should call 01- 418 0200.
The City of Berkeley has issued the following statement:
The injured were transported to Highland Hospital in Oakland, Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, and John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.
Due to privacy concerns, the City cannot release the names of the injured.
Read here for more.
Another photo of inspectors looking at collapsed Berkeley balcony. pic.twitter.com/87THTpnmwJ
— Kristin Hanes (@KristinHanes) June 16, 2015
Minister Charles Flanagan has issued a statement on today’s tragedy:
"The families who have been bereaved in the tragedy in Berkeley earlier today have now all been contacted.
"I again want to express my deepest sympathy to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in this appalling incident.
"We continue to provide all possible consular assistance to those affected."
Click here for the full statement.
It is understood a number of the casualties are from south Dublin and graduated from schools in the Foxrock and Rathmines areas in 2012.
Meanwhile, three young Longford men living on the ground floor of the apartment block where the balcony collapsed, have been confirmed safe and uninjured.
Dan Sullivan, Mark Neville, and Noel Murphy, all from Longford Town, are in Berkeley for the summer, and were sleeping at the time of the incident.
The Cabinet is considering sending a jet to help repatriate the bodies.
A Book of Condolence for those killed in Berkeley will be opened at the Mansion House in Dublin on Thursday.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Christy Burke, has expressed his sympathies to the victims families.
People can sign the book from 10am until 4pm on Thursday and again on Friday.
A sixth person has died after a balcony collapsed during a 21st birthday party attended by Irish students in California, a US coroner has confirmed.
Police received a noise complaint concerning a loud party in the apartment about an hour before the balcony collapsed at 12.41am local time, but had not yet responded, said officer Byron White of the Berkeley Police Department.
The balcony, estimated to have been 5ft by 10ft, separated completely from the building and landed on a lower balcony.
“What the first responders said is, it was quite disturbing,” Mr White said.
“Any time you have a tragedy like this, it’s quite awful.”
Two Irish students asleep in the building said they heard a bang during the accident.
Mark Neville, who has been in the US for three weeks under the J-1 visa programme, said: “I walked out and I saw rubble on the street and a bunch of Irish students crying.”
“I just heard a bang and a lot of shouting,” added Dan Sullivan, 21.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said his “heart breaks” for the families of five students who have died in the US after a balcony collapsed during a 21st birthday party.
“According to information from local police there were 13 people on the balcony at the time of collapse, there is no official confirmation yet of their identities or the nationality of all those involved,” he said.
“Current information suggests all of those are Irish.”
All of those who were killed or injured are believed to be aged between 20 and 22.
Mr Kenny said he was “shocked and saddened” to hear of the unfolding events.
Collapsed Berkeley balcony in aerial view pic.twitter.com/WqnCYWwU2h
— Stan Bunger (@BungerKCBSRadio) June 16, 2015
“My heart breaks for the parents who lost children this morning and I can only imagine the fear in the hearts of other parents whose children are in California this summer as they seek to contact them now,” he said.
“It is truly terrible to have such a serious and sad incidence take place at the beginning of a summer of adventure and opportunity for so many young people on J1 visas in the US.”
Before/after views of Library Gardens balcony in Berkeley pic.twitter.com/jWAdp2d3D3
— Stan Bunger (@BungerKCBSRadio) June 16, 2015
The Taoiseach said “it is too early to say (what) the full extent” is of the “dreadful accident”.
Archbishop Eamon Martin has said he is praying for the families of victims during their “profoundly painful” time.
“Like many others, I am shocked and deeply saddened to hear the reports of the tragic deaths of five Irish students earlier today in Berkeley, California,” he said.
“This devastating news will be felt by Irish people everywhere, and particularly by those who have family and friends abroad.”
Archbishop Martin said he is also praying that the injured students will recover.
He added: “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.”
Holly Kwan, a reporter with KBCS Radio in Berkeley California who is at the scene, says it looks like the balcony came loose and flipped over on itself.
She said: "It's not an older building, it actually looks like a new construction with stucco on the outside.
"It looks to me like a small balcony, and it looks like it came loose from the wall and flipped over on itself, basically dumping whoever was on it into the street."
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny says the country mourns the tragic loss of young lives in California.
The Union of Students in Ireland has also expressed its shock at the news.
Speaking outside Government Buildings in Dublin, Mr Flanagan said: "It's an appalling tragedy, an appalling loss of life for young people whose hopes and dreams of the future have suddenly and without notice been shattered.
.@CharlieFlanagan speaking to journalists about the balcony collapse in Berkley. Emergency number is +353 1 418 0200 pic.twitter.com/COQVVFQp3r
— Government of Ireland (@GovIE) June 16, 2015
“There are a number of other students in the apartment at what I understand to have been a 21st birthday party who have been injured. They are being treated at a nearby hospital.
“I understand from both the police and indeed the hospital that five Irish citizens have lost their lives.”
Mr Flanagan said he believes a number of other injured students – between eight and nine – are all Irish students.
It is understood they are students who were travelling on a J1 working visa to the US.
Thousands of Irish families are getting in touch with a special emergency helpline set up in the wake of the tragedy.
It is being reported that a 21st birthday party was taking place in the apartment when the accident happened.
#BalconyCollapse at apt near UC Berkeley campus 21st bday party turns tragic #KTVU @osullijo @AmaraSophia pic.twitter.com/9RH2fkkyZf
— taramoriarty (@taramoriarty1) June 16, 2015
The complex at Liberty Gardens was built in 2006.
The US Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin O’Malley, expressed sympathy to the families, loved ones and friends of those who died.
“All of us at the United States Embassy are greatly saddened by news of this tragic incident and are ready to do whatever we can to assist the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs at this difficult time. We will continue to co-ordinate as more details become available,” he said.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan has confirmed five Irish students have died and more have been injured in the balcony collapse in Berkeley.
He 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 a balcony."
He said it is his understanding that they were on a J1 visa.
It is with great sadness that I can confirm five Irish students have lost their lives in California - Minister Flanagan
— Government of Ireland (@GovIE) June 16, 2015
My understanding is that a number of other students have been injured and are all Irish students - Minister Flanagan
— Government of Ireland (@GovIE) June 16, 2015
Relatives of the dead and injured have been in contact with at least three hospitals in the state which responded to the emergency.
Those caught up in the incident were rushed to hospitals and trauma centres in and around Berkeley, and also in Oakland and to Walnut Creek, with fire crews from several stations in the city involved in the emergency response.
Social workers are on hand in some of the hospitals to field calls from family and friends of those caught up in the accident.
***
Earlier, it was understood that five people had been killed and a number of others have been critically injured after the fourth floor balcony of an apartment building collapsed on Kittridge Street near the University of California at around 1am local time.
Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said "a number of Irish citizens" have lost their lives in the incident.
4th floor #Berkeley balcony collapse: 5 killed,8 suffered serious to life threatening injuries pic.twitter.com/GXsMxziX05
— Stephanie Chuang (@StephChuang) June 16, 2015
The Minister has described the incident as a "dreadful accident" and has activated his Department's Consular Crisis Centre to help the families of the victims.
Those caught up in the incident were rushed to hospitals and trauma centres in and around Berkeley, with fire crews from several stations in the city involved in the emergency response.
At least four people were taken to the Sutter Alta Bates Summit Medical Centre.
Officer Jennifer Coats, of the Berkeley Police Department, said many of the injured have critical, life-threatening injuries.
Developing: 5 people are dead and 8 others injured after a balcony collapsed in #Berkeley overnight pic.twitter.com/sHVaCmsNM2
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) June 16, 2015
She said officers were alerted shortly after 1am and found the balcony on the fourth floor of an apartment building on Kittredge Street had collapsed.
“We don’t have a lot of specific detail at this point because they (investigators) are still trying to work through it all,” said Ms Coats.
There has been no immediate details of how the incident occurred at the apartment and retail building on Kittredge Street in the university city.
Holly Kwan, a reporter with KBCS Radio in Berkeley California, is at the scene, and she said: "From what we understand there were people who tried to help take victims or victims' friends to the hospital with them.
"They also apparently had Irish accents, they said that they were visiting here, that their parents were here. They all seemed to know each other and they were friends."
The area around the building has been cordoned off.
President Michael D Higgins sent a message of condolence while on a state visit to Italy.
“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.
Shocking news of the deaths of several young Irish people in a tragic accident in California.My heart & sympathy goes out to their families.
— Martin McGuinness (@M_McGuinness_SF) June 16, 2015
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