Four youths killed after balcony collapses in France

Four people were killed and 14 injured when a balcony collapsed in Angers, western France, during a housewarming party, local authorities and media said.

Authorities in the Maine-et-Loire region said the accident occurred late on Saturday night, when a balcony on the third floor of the recently constructed building gave way, plunging more than nine metres to the ground.

Police said the dead and injured were all in their early 20s and were mostly students.

Europe1 radio said 18 people were on the balcony when it collapsed about 11pm. As it fell, the structure smashed off two lower floor balconies. The building was said to have been built within the last 15 years.

Michel Pichon, director at Angers hospital, said 11 people were admitted for treatment and several had serious but not life-threatening injures.

The local prefect, Béatrice Abollivier, told France Info: “It’s a recent building and the balcony was on the third floor.” She said no details were being given of the victims but they were all young people.

Fire services evacuated other residents of the building on Sunday.