At least 200 killed in explosions at Nigerian arms dump

At least 200 people are known to have died following a series of explosions at a munitions dump in the Nigerian capital, Lagos, yesterday.

Rescue workers recovered more than 200 bodies from the Oke Afa canal in the city today following the explosions at the nearby Ikeja military base.

The first blast rang out shortly before 6pm local time and was followed by more than a dozen other explosions which shattered windows throughout Lagos.

The blast was felt six miles away at the city’s international airport, where all flights were temporarily cancelled.

State and military officials went on national television to appeal for calm and to assure people that their city was not being attacked.

Initial reports suggest the explosions were triggered by a fire at a nearby fuel station.