THE six victims of the balcony collapse tragedy in Berkeley have all be named, as seven others fight for their lives in hospital.
The victims are Niccolai Schuster, Olivia Burke, Eimear Walsh, Eoghan Culligan and Lorcan Miller, all aged 21 and from Ireland, as well as 22-year-old Irish-American Ashley Donohoe, a cousin of fellow victim Ms Burke.
It is believed the families of the victims are arriving in California this morning.
The six were killed in the early hours of yesterday morning, when a fourth floor balcony collapsed in an apartment near the University of California in Berkeley.
Four of the victims died at the scene, while a fifth died shortly afterwards in hospital. A sixth victim was confirmed to have died yesterday evening.
The seven who are injured have also been named as Clodagh Cogley, Hannah Waters, Niall Murray, Sean Fahey, Jack Halpin, Conor Flynn and Aoife Beary.
It is understood that Ms Beary was also a cousin of Ms Donohoe, and had been living with Ms Walsh and Ms Burke in the apartment.
Initial reports from California suggest that dry rot caused the balcony to collapse. The building, which was constructed in 2006 according to The LA Times, may have allowed rainwater in, which would cause rapid deterioration of the wooden beams supporting the balcony.
Many tributes have been left at the scene of the tragedy, including Irish and Dublin flags, as the locals come to terms with what has happened.
Meanwhile, a book of condolences is to open in University College Dublin today, where many of the victims were students, while a separate book will be available for the general public to sign at Dublin’s Mansion House from 10am tomorrow.
