At least twelve die as balcony collapses

At least 12 young people died and as many as 35 were injured early today when an overloaded second-floor balcony on an apartment building collapsed during a party early today, authorities said.

It is thought that dozens of people might have been standing on the balcony when it gave way shortly past midnight, knocking the first-floor balcony to the ground and trapping some people in a basement stairwell, authorities said.