UPDATED 11:19AM: A neighbour of the house where two people died and 17 were injured in a balcony collapse on Saturday night has described the sound of the incident as "biblical".
Andrew Stone was inside his home in Doncaster East about 9.30pm when he heard the crash.
"I ignore a lot of noises that you hear in the neighbourhood and the sound of that balcony crashing got me right up and out of the chair," Mr Stone said.
"At first, I thought maybe a fight or something had broken out. I heard crashing. In hindsight, it was maybe five seconds long but it felt like forever."
Two women died and 17 others were injured after the timber balcony collapsed at the rear of the Balinga Court home during what is believed to have been a Tupperware Christmas party.
More than 30 people were standing on the balcony when it gave way.
Paramedics described the scene as "chaotic".
Ambulance Victoria activated its major emergency response plan, using more than a dozen ambulances to move the injured to several hospitals throughout the city.
A 59-year-old Croydon woman died at the scene. A 37-year-old Reservoir woman was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital, where she died on Sunday morning.
A further 10 women and seven men, ranging in age from 20 to 69, sustained soft tissues injures, fractures and lacerations.
They were transported to Box Hill, Austin and Maroondah hospitals.
A number of people were trapped, Metropolitan Fire Brigade spokeswoman Belle Nolan said.
She said there was furniture on the balcony, including a barbecue and fridge, when it collapsed.
The house is L-shaped and it is believed the balcony may have collapsed into the pool area.
Mr Stone said the incident was "loud, really loud".
"The sound of it was sharp. It was like a tree being felled. The crash was biblical," he said.
"The sound of it was nothing like I had heard before and, of course, followed by screaming. It was fairly intense."
Mr Stone said he went outside and saw other neighbours there, some coming to people's aid with blankets and chairs.
"That's when I heard someone really hysterical on the street dialling triple zero," he said.
One of the police officer told him the partygoers had been on the balcony to take a group photo, he said.
"Really devastating," Mr Stone said.
"[The residents] are a lovely couple ... They obviously hold Tupperware parties fairly often.
"It's not something you think about: the balcony. That sort of thing doesn't happen in Doncaster East."
The large brick veneer house is rented in a quiet suburban street.
On Sunday morning, Christmas lights were still blinking at the entrance of the house. Giant blow-up Santas decorated the lawns and a few deflated Santas lay on the garden beds.
Inside the empty house, a light had been left on. Two Tupperware cars were in the driveway of the home.
State Health Commander Paul Holman said the incident was "very tragic" for those involved.
"Our thoughts are with them and their loved ones at this time," he said.
