The search for those missing, feared buried beneath the rubble of these two New York City apartment blocks, went on through the night.
The number of dead rose to at least four on Thursday.
Another 36 have been injured in the explosion that caused the collapse, blamed on a gas leak.
Earlier on Wednesday residents in the area spoke of the moment the blast hit.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) AISHA WATTS, RESIDENT OF BUILDING NEXT TO EXPLOSION SITE, SAYING:
"I walked down the hallway trying to get out of the apartment. I couldn't get out. I was stuck, I was jammed, so I took a knife and started jamming the lock open and then my neighbour came and kicked the door open."
"I was saying 'move away'. It was a lot of fire, I couldn't go towards it. Everybody was running away. A lot of debris, a lot of fire, stuff like that."
(SOUNDBITE)(English) CATHERINE, LIVES NEAR EXPLOSION SITE, SAYING:
