Eleven people have been injured after a balcony collapsed in a freak accident in California.

Per KCBS News, the ordeal took place in Malibu after 15 people packed themselves onto a balcony area at a rented beach house, which led to it collapsing and dropping 15 feet down onto the rocks below.

Officials at the county fire department, who rescued the people, later told People magazine that at least four were transported to the hospital with moderate injuries, while a further five people were treated at the scene.

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Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Ron Haralson stated: "It was approximately 15 people on one fairly small deck, so weight could have been an issue."

Haralson also confirmed that the property has been rendered uninhabitable due to the damage sustained, and additional vandalism.

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A video of the alarming incident has since emerged on social media, showing a large crowd of people laughing and partying, and then the critical moment that saw the balcony shatter.

The owner of the property confirmed in an interview with KCBS that she learned from her neighbors that there were about 30 people on the site at the time of the accident on Saturday, May 8 - far more than the six allowed.

The homeowner added that she had attempted to get the additional people to leave for three hours, and was on the phone with them until 5:00PM on the day of the accident - which occurred around 15 minutes later.

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Meanwhile, one of the witnesses at the party at the time of the incident told KCBS: "We heard a crack, and I literally saw all my best friends and my girlfriend fall 15 feet to the rocks.

"The deck just literally gave out. It could've been a lot worse, but it's pretty awful."

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Some of those who were injured on Saturday are looking into filing a lawsuit and will be seeking financial compensation in the coming days, KCBS reported.

Attorney Shervin Lalezary, who is representing at least four of those injured on Saturday, told the publication: "Some of my clients have orthopedic issues. One of them hit their head."

Featured Image Credit: Pexels / Alamy

11 injured in California as balcony collapses, dropping people onto rocks below