PICTURED: Father, 38, and son, 12, of five dead in a Pittsburgh house explosion that destroyed three homes: Couple visited their neighbor’s property that stood on an abandoned mine

A “loving” father and son were killed in an explosion in Pittsburgh that destroyed three homes – while visiting their neighbors.

Casey Clontz, 38, and his son Keegan, 12, lived just four houses away from the property that exploded in Plum at 10:22 a.m. Saturday.

Authorities confirmed that five people, including a child, were killed in the blast, which destroyed two adjacent properties.

Terrifying footage showed a house on Rustic Ridge Road exploding, engulfing other properties in flames. The cause of the explosion is currently unclear, but the house was on top of an abandoned mine.

a GoFundMe was set up for the Oravitz family, who lived in the property destroyed by the blast, though it’s unclear if any of them are among the dead.

In tribute to the father and son, the family said Casey was a “loving father, husband and brother,” adding that Kegan was a “devoted son, friend and big brother.”

Casey is survived by his wife Jen and daughter Addie, 10, and the family added: “Their smiles and laughter filled the hearts of their family and friends with a joy that can never be replaced.”

Relatives have not said why the father and son were on the Oratvitz estate, but explained that it was not uncommon for them to drop by because they were “very friendly” with neighbours.

Public records show that Paul Oravitz, 56, his wife Heather, 51, and their two children, Taylor and Cole, lived at the property.

Official identification of the dead is expected to take some time as it involves the use of dental records and DNA for formal identification.

Three people were rescued from the blast, two were released from hospital and one remained in critical condition.

Fifty-seven firefighters were treated at the scene for minor problems after emergency services rushed to the scene.

A third family was left homeless after the blast, and neighboring properties were completely destroyed by the post-explosion fire.

Harrison Smith, 35, his wife Kelly, 36, and their son Levi, 3, lost their entire home in the blast.

Friends have since set up one GoFundMe for the pair, which has raised $30,800 of a $50,000 goal so far.

Borough manager Mike Thomas, 57, owned the third property that caught fire, according to Plum Mayor Harry Schlegel.

Mayor Schlegel confirmed that Thomas’s wife Jacqueline, 48, and their daughter were taken to hospital after the blast.

He added that a man living in a neighboring house was flown to UPMC Mercy to be treated in the hospital’s burn unit.

Authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the blast at 10:30 am on Saturday, adding that the investigation into the blast could take years.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said, “This is a sad, sad day and a sad time, not just for the people of Plum, but for all people in the community and in this region.”

Footage of the explosion circulating online shows a home in Plum, a Pittsburgh suburb, in what appears to be a fairly sleepy neighborhood exploding and sending debris flying about.

The housing project sits atop an abandoned mine near shallow oil and gas wells – some of which are still in active production.

Neighbor Rafael Kolankowski told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette: ‘It’s just tragic, I mean it looks like a war zone – it looks like a bomb went off in our neighborhood, and it’s just too bad.’

Other neighbors revealed they felt they were “lucky to be alive” as authorities warned residents should stay away from the area until it is deemed safe.

Emergency services reported people trapped under the rubble, county spokesman Amie Downs said.

Crews from at least 18 fire departments worked to douse the flames with the help of water tankers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.

The Allegheny County medical examiner’s office is expected to provide additional information on the deceased victims.

Michael Huwar, president of Peoples Gas, said the company’s checks for underground and airborne gas leaks, as well as constant pressure verified at regulating stations, indicated that “our system was working as designed.”

Gas and electricity supplies were shut down as a precaution and officials said on Sunday there was a plan to begin restoring power with all but a few homes expected to be restored, officials said.

Governor Josh Shapiro said he and the first lady were “praying for the affected families” and promised them that “we will take care of you as you rebuild.”

Emergency services were called to Rustic Ridge Drive and Brookside Drive at about 10:23 a.m. Saturday morning and discovered people trapped under the rubble, while two others were engulfed in flames, police said.

First responders who arrived on scene were met by a massive inferno that had created a large plume of thick, black smoke at the scene.

Several homes were leveled in the incident with aerial footage showing at least three empty lots where homes once stood and multiple properties with broken windows and exterior damage.

Allegheny and Westmoreland counties sent water tankers to the scene and 18 different fire departments coordinated to douse the flames and conduct rescue operations.