More than 400 balconies in Berkeley, California are in need of corrective work, according to a report on the city’s buildings that was commissioned following the deaths of six Irish students last June.

A report on the inspection of thousands of buildings in Berkeley is to be published in the next fortnight, following the balcony collapse that claimed the lives of six Irish students in the Californian city last summer.

A statement on behalf of the families of four of the survivors of last month’s Berkeley balcony collapse, has thanked all who have helped the injured college students, and paid tribute to those who lost their lives.

Legislative moves to tighten oversight of construction companies following the Berkeley balcony collapse have been branded “knee-jerk” by the main body representing building firms in California.

Messages of solidarity continue to bridge the ocean of tears stretching between Ireland and the US as the families of the students lost in the Berkeley tragedy prepare to bring their loved ones home.

A balcony that collapsed, killing six students, was only added to the side of an apartment block to make the building look nicer, it emerged in documents released by the city of Berkeley.

The funerals of two of the six victims of Tuesday’s accident in Berkeley are to be held in California today.

Local court reports have shown that the builder of the Berkeley apartments had paid off more than $6m (€5.2m) in law suits because of bad balcony building practices.

Images of rotting wood left exposed by the deadly collapse of a balcony in Berkeley are “incredibly similar” to pictures used in a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the construction company that built the complex where six students died, it was claimed last night.

The balcony below the one that collapsed, killing six young students, including five Irish, was removed yesterday after being branded an immediate “collapse hazard” by Berkeley city inspectors.