Six Irish students who were killed following a fifth-floor balcony collapse in Berkeley, California, during a 21st birthday party have been identified.

The six victims were 22-year-old Ashley Donohoe from Rohnert Park, California, and 21-year-olds Olivia Burke, Eoghan Culligan, Lorcan Miller, Niccolai Schuster, and Eimear Walsh. All were from Ireland, but Donohoe had dual citizenship from Ireland and the United States.

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Most of the six victims were from South Dublin and were studying at University College Dublin. Reports said five of the college students were there on a popular cultural exchange program during the working holiday.

The J-1 Summer Work Travel program, popular with Irish students, allows them to travel and work in the United States, according to The Associated Press.

The program created by the U.S. government reportedly brings around 100,000 college students to the country yearly. Many of these students find occupation at attractions, resorts, as well as summer camps.

While six students died following the Berkeley balcony collapse, several others have been injured, with some reported critical.

The Berkeley balcony collapse, which occurred early Tuesday morning, saw the six students plunging 40 feet onto the ground.

There had been a large number of people at the party in the apartment, which could mean around 12 to 14 people tried to fit into the small balcony at the fourth floor when the incident occurred, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

The building, popular with Berkeley students, dates from 2006 and is relatively new.

According to a structural engineer on Tuesday, the Berkeley balcony collapse occurred due to water rotting the wood that was holding the balcony to the building.

There was a "deficiency in the design" of the deck, according to Tony Childress, owner of Childress Engineering Services in Texas.

Childress also questioned the connection of the entire deck to the Kittredge Street residential apartment building.

Apparently, accidents such as the Berkeley balcony collapse are common. In September 2014, many were injured following a balcony collapse in Oakland. In January, people were also injured after a collapse in San Francisco. Over the past few years, there have also been several reports of such accidents across the country, according to The San Jose Mercury News.

A lawyer representing the victims have said that the collapse was "100 percent avoidable."

"Due to the complete inadequacy of . . . inspections around the Bay Area, you literally have ticking time bombs," said Niall McCarthy, a lawyer who previously represented victims in five balcony collapses in the Bay Area.

People have been barred from using balconies in the complex by building inspectors since the incident.

According to Berkeley police, an inspection on the safety of the remaining balconies is under way.

Tagsirish students killed, irish students killed on balcony, Berkeley, Berkeley Balcony Collapse