Oct. 18 (UPI) — At least 10 people were taken to hospitals, including one with life-threatening injuries, after an apartment’s balcony collapsed near the University of Cincinnati, the city’s fire department said.
The collapse occurred at 10 p.m. Friday in the city’s Corryville neighborhood, firefighters said, according to WLWT-TV.
The balcony, which was 8 feet by 12 feet, fell about 20 feet into the pavement because of too many people, the fire department said.
Most of the victims were taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, about a half mile away.
Besides the life-threatening injury, four were described by the fire department as serious.
Deputy Fire Chief Nicholas Caliguri said “other victims may have self-transported to area hospitals.”
Some of the victims were UC students, fire department spokeswoman Lindsay Haegele.
“We want to assure you that the situation is being addressed with the highest priority,” said a letter to residents by Dayton-based Eclipse Community Management, which manages condominium and homeowners associations.
Students were celebrating after passing an exam, WXIX-TV reported.
Hamilton County’s Division of Buildings and Inspections was notified.
One neighbor told the Cincinnati Enquirer he saw 40 to 50 people on the street before the collapse.
In November 2019, one person died and others were injured when a six-floor building under construction in downtown Cincinnati partially collapsed.