Authorities have said that the death toll in an explosion in a neighborhood of Edmonton, Alberta, has reached four.

The Edmonton Journal has reported that the deaths were being treated as suspicious with homicide detectives taking over the investigation into the blast that destroyed four houses and damaged 19 others in the Lago Lindo neighborhood on Sunday.

The newspaper also said that the medical examiner's office will conduct autopsies to determine the cause and manner of death.

The explosion rattled windows for blocks and scattered debris for hundreds of yards, leaving a hole in the middle of the block of uniform suburban houses.

Fire officials and police said the cause of the blast was still unknown.

Quick-thinking neighbors, after the explosion, began helping rescue survivors from the homes surrounding the site of the explosion.

Neighbor Mathieu Comeault grabbed his sandals and ran toward the damaged homes.

Describing how he and another resident help free an elderly woman buried by debris in a house, he said, "I just stopped thinking."

According to the Journal, District Fire Chief Robert D'Aoust said those who rushed to help should be commended for their bravery, though he said the fire department generally cautions people not to put themselves in dangerous situations. (With Inputs from Agencies)