The Mayor of Berkeley says investigators believe the wood on the balcony which collapsed killing six students wasn't sealed properly at the time of construction.
Two Irish students remain in critical condition at The Highlands Hospital in Oakland near Berkeley, California today.
In the last 12 hours the parents of Aoife Beary and Hannah Waters have arrived to be at the bedside of the two women. The students were celebrating Aoife’s 21st birthday when tragedy struck on Monday night.
All necessary autopsies on the six deceased are likely to be completed today, and the families will be able to repatriate their loved ones whenever they see fit; although no plans have been confirmed as yet.
The bodies will be kept in the Alameda County Mortuary.
In total, seven students remain in critical condition, five of whom are being treated in two different hospitals. None are suffering life-threatening situations but their injuries are said to be “life altering” and serious.
The Irish consulate has set up a trauma centre in the Public Safety building in Berkeley, and The City of Berkeley is assisting the Irish Consulate with staff and trained councillors to support grief-stricken students
Other families of the approximately 40-strong group that gathered in the apartment on Kittredge Street are also in transit to Berkeley, to be there for the others suffering from trauma.
All medical costs and emergency related costs are covered through J1 insurance guaranteed through student visa programmes, USIT and SAYIT.
Aer Lingus is also assisting the families in travelling to see their loved ones.
The non-criminal investigation into the collapse of the balcony of the apartment rented by two of the students is being led by building and safety department in Berkeley.
Six students died and seven were very seriously injured when the balcony of the apartment detached itself from the building around 12.40am on Tuesday.
5 of the students were Irish; one was dual US and Irish citizenship.
