Early Tuesday morning, a group of five Irish students and one American were killed while seven were injured in a balcony collapse near the University of California, Berkeley.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charles Flanagan, issued a statement of condolence to the students families.

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

The identities of the dead students were confirmed by JD Nelson, a Sergeant of the Alameda County Sheriff's office in a press conference on Tuesday.

The deceased students include Ashley Donohoe, 22, from Rohenert Park, California, Olivia Burke, Eoghan Culligan, Niccolai Schuster, Lorcan Miller and Eimera Walsh, all 21 years of age, from Ireland.

The accident took place during a birthday celebration at the relatively new apartment building, according to KRON 4.

Many of the guests were Irish students living in Berkeley for a summer exchange program.

Philip Grant, the Consul General of Ireland to the Western United States, called the program a "formative experience" for thousands of young Irish citizens who travel to the United States each summer, and said that the Irish community was still shocked at what had taken place.

"We have around 700 Irish students in the Bay Area at the moment, and there are very few of them who didn't know someone at that party," said Grant.

The balcony crashed onto the sidewalk from the top of the building around midnight.