Police say 24-year-old Femi Brown lived on the second floor of the duplex that was leveled “like a pancake” in Wednesday’s blast.
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One person was pronounced dead at the scene, and a dozen others were pulled from the home.
Two people, including an 11-year-old, remain in critical condition with severe burns.
The rest of the victims were being treated at local hospitals, Elizabeth, New Jersey, officials said.
Bollwage said he was “90 percent sure it was a natural gas explosion”, but it was unclear what set it off.
The names and ages of the victims have not been released.
Duane Bourne, a spokesman with Elizabethtown Gas, said a preliminary investigation found no indication the blast was gas-related.
Pryce also said the house that exploded is a two-family unit with an apartment in the garage.
The individual had not been home at the time of the explosion, a spokeswoman for Mayor Chris Bollwage said.
A Twitter user who lives in the neighborhood posted photos and video from the scene.
In addition, at least 5 people were hurt at the explosion Wednesday morning in the 1000 block of Magnolia Avenue in Elizabeth.
If you smell gas (such as a “rotten egg” smell) or hear the hiss of a possible leak, you should check to see if the burners on your stove are off, and then open the windows to ventilate the house. But there is no sign of fire.
The Red Cross tweeted it is helping 44 people with emergency assistance such as temporary lodging, food and clothing.
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There is no word on the cause and no details on the extent of the injuries.
