Today In History: More than 30 killed as blast rocks Lagos Island

Nigeria has suffered its fair share of explosions over the past years.

The blast of February 3, 2003, at a bank building in a densely populated residential neighborhood on the Island will be remembered as one of dark those days that crippled the country’s commercial capital, Lagos.

Like every normal day, commuters on the island went about their normal business when a deafening explosion hit a building close-by.

News site Midland Daily News reports the unfortunate incident occurred at 12:30 pm.

Reports said the powerful explosion destroyed a four-floor building. The heavily damaged building damaged two other adjoining buildings.

Eyewitness at the scene of the crash said the explosion could be heard miles away, as it set up a tower of smoke in its wake.

While the cause of the blast couldn’t be verified by government officials, many in the neighborhood said the blast occurred as a result of a bank robbery. The Associated Press also reported the police were considering the possibility that someone was using explosives in an attempted bank robbery.

A Red Cross official, who refused to give his name, said more than 30 bodies had been recovered by mid-afternoon. "I believe a lot more people are still trapped," the official said as quoted by Midland Daily News.

A resident, Omololu Kassim who was assisting with carrying the victims said he saw not less than 40 dead bodies. Local radio put the death toll at 50 or more.