6 Die in Berkeley Balcony Collapse

Six people were killed and seven injured when a balcony collapsed at a Berkeley, California apartment building early Tuesday morning. Many of the victims are Irish nationals on J-1 non-immigrant visas, according to the country's foreign minister, which are assigned to those in work-and-study-based exchange programs. All involved were believed to be in their 20s. There were reportedly 12 to 14 people on the apartment balcony celebrating a 21st birthday when the accident occurred. Berkeley officials have red-tagged three other balconies in the 177-unit complex and to “preform a structural assessment of the remaining balconies within 48 hours,” according to Matthai Chakko, a city spokesman. The investigation is still underway.