Five people have been taken to hospital, including two with suspected spinal injuries, after a balcony collapsed in a coastal town north of Perth.

Ten people were on the balcony of the two-storey beach house in Lancelin on Sunday afternoon when the structure gave way.

Four ambulances were called to the town, 130 kilometres north of Perth.

Two people have suspected spinal injuries while a third person has a fractured leg.

Another two patients were being treated for shock.

It was not immediately clear what caused the balcony to collapse.

The chief executive of the Shire of Gingin, Jeremy Edwards, said a building inspection of the property will take place this week.

“We’ll have a look at the building files and we’ll actually have a look at what was put in to be built on that property and our building manager will go up there first thing on Tuesday morning,” he said.

The ABC reported earlier this year that up to 12,000 balconies and decks across Australia could be at risk of potentially deadly collapse

An ABC investigation found there is no system for mandatory inspections of decks across Australia and rules vary from state to state.

Source:   http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-01/five-injured-after-beach-house-balcony-collapses-in-lancelin/5492594