An investigation was under way today into the cause of a powerful explosion that tore apart a bank and dozens of apartments above it in Nigeria’s crowded commercial capital, killing at least 40 people and trapping many others.

UP TO 40 people were killed in an explosion which demolished three apartment blocks and tore open a bank in central Lagos yesterday, the Lagos state government said.

Up to 50 people are now feared dead in a blast which rocked the Nigerian capital Lagos today.