San Burno explosion Death toll rises.

The nation is still in shock over the San Bruno explosion that sent a fireball shooting 80 feet in the air and quickly turned neighborhood homes into piles of ash. The death toll rises as the search for the missing continues. Authorities say that at least five people are still missing. It is unclear how many people have died, but according to the San Mateo County Coroner, the death toll remains at four. However, this is expected to rise. There are unconfirmed reports putting the death toll at six, but these have not been verified by the coroner’s office.

Cadaver dogs have been dispatched alongside investigators with the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) who has an open investigation into the source of the San Bruno explosion. Three of the four fatalities have been identified, but the identity of the fourth person is not yet known. At least three people are hospitalized in critical condition.

Early Saturday morning, California Senator Barbara Boxer toured the area and was visibly upset when she spoke to media afterwards. NTSB has taken over the investigation and will collect evidence from the site that will be used to determine the cause of the San Bruno explosion.

Click on the links for photos from the San Bruno explosion