Malibu Investigating After 9 Hurt in Balcony Collapse

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — The city of Malibu is investigating whether any rental codes were violated at a home where nine people were injured when a balcony collapsed during a crowded weekend party.

The beachside property had a valid short-term rental permit, the city said in a statement.

Code Enforcement is looking into “any potential violations of occupancy limits of that permit or any other issues with that property,” the statement said.

As many as 15 adults were on the balcony overlooking the Pacific Saturday evening when it collapsed and crashed up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) to rocks below, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Four people were transported to hospitals with non-critical injuries, LA County Fire Captain Ron Haralson said Sunday.

Five others who fell were evaluated at the scene and declined transport, Haralson said.

Security camera footage from the home next door obtained by CBS 2 shows a group of people looking out at the waves when the balcony gives way.

Haralson said the accident happened during a large gathering at the house on a coastal stretch about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of downtown Los Angeles.

The home has been red-tagged to indicate that it is too dangerous to inhabit.

KCAL 9 reported that the owner of the home acknowledged that she had rented the home for the weekend, but the occupancy was meant to remain under six people. A neighbor called the homeowner to report that around 30 people were there.

The owner KCAL 9 that she was on the phone ordering the tenants to leave when the collapse occurred.