REPORT: 5 Irish people have died following a balcony collapse in California

Media report five people have died with up to nine others injured.

According to ABC7 News, a number of people have died following a tragic balcony collapse in Berkley, California.

#BREAKING 5 killed in Berkeley balcony collapse near Kittredge & Harold. Several taken to hospital. Latest at 4:30am on @abc7newsBayArea

— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) June 16, 2015

ABC7 News reports that police received a call about the incident shortly before 1 a.m. PDT Tuesday, and when officers arrived they found that the balcony on the fourth floor of the building on Kittredge Street had disintegrated.

LIVE UPDATES: Follow all of the latest developments in this story here.

Many of the injured have critical, life-threatening wounds, said officer Jennifer Coats, a spokeswoman with the Berkeley Police Department.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has also confirmed that a number of Irish people are among the dead. Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan has confirmed on RTE Radio 1 that all five victims are Irish.

PHOTO: Apartment building balcony collapse in Berkeley. http://t.co/4JrVXpOwv4 Many of the victims are from Ireland. pic.twitter.com/DXObAke2xH

— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) June 16, 2015

A man who drove victims of that Berkeley balcony collapse to the hospital says they are Irish and in their early 20's pic.twitter.com/v9W4TuPbBJ

— Amy Hollyfield (@amyhollyfield) June 16, 2015

Irish Victims were celebrating a 21st birthday party when the apartment balcony collapsed in Berkeley. Victims here on work visa for summer.

— Amy Hollyfield (@amyhollyfield) June 16, 2015

#breaking: #Irish consul general in #SF Phillip Grant : 12-14 ppl on balcony,
all 20-22 yrs old. injured at Eden, Highland & John Muir Hosp

— Kristen Sze ABC7 (@abc7kristensze) June 16, 2015

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan expressed his sympathy in a statement:

“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 in Berkley, California earlier today,” he said.

“My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of the deceased and those who have been injured in this appalling accident. My Department in Dublin stands ready to provide all possible consular assistance to the Irish citizens affected by this tragedy.

“Our Consul General in San Francisco is in close contact with the authorities and will be providing assistance to those affected on the ground.

“It is too early to know the full extent of this dreadful accident but I have opened my Department’s Consular Crisis Centre and activated our emergency response line so we can provide assistance and guidance to the families of those affected and to others who have concerns.”

#breaking closeup of the #berkeley balcony that folded over the stucco building. Irish students celebrating birthday pic.twitter.com/cz3vILu8I0

— Kristen Sze ABC7 (@abc7kristensze) June 16, 2015

According to The Journal, President Michael D Higgins, who is currently on an official visit to Italy, has also released a statement:

“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. My heart goes out to the families and loved one’s 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.”

Statement from @USAmbIreland on the tragic deaths of Irish students in California pic.twitter.com/wD2wJTsYhi

— U.S. Embassy Dublin (@USEmbassyDublin) June 16, 2015