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🇧🇴 Bolivia /Disasters & Emergencies

40 people reported injured in Viacha as conscripts’ families seek information

From El Deber · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Two explosions struck the Bolívar Regiment in Viacha, alarming residents and damaging homes near the military facility.
  • Authorities gave differing figures for those treated, ranging from 29 people listed by the municipality to 40 reported by a hospital and 58 cited by the Defense Ministry.
  • Officials said stored pyrotechnic material caused the blasts, while residents insisted that military material exploded; no official confirmation of injuries or the cause was available at the time.

Confusion and uncertainty spread through Viacha after two explosions struck the Bolívar Regiment, leaving families of military conscripts waiting outside for information.

The blasts occurred at about 2:30 p.m. on Friday, roughly 20 minutes apart. The second explosion caused the greatest damage, affecting homes across from the barracks. Residents said at least four ambulances entered the compound, which authorities closed to relatives and other civilians.

The municipality of Viacha published a list of 29 injured people, although it was unclear whether all were conscripts. A hospital in Viacha reported treating at least 40 people, while the Defense Ministry cited 58 by about 7 p.m. The figures remained inconsistent.

The Defense Ministry said the explosions involved pyrotechnic material stored at the site. Residents disputed that account and said military material had exploded. One neighbor displayed what appeared to be a casing and a large rock containing metal, saying the debris had fallen from the barracks.

Dozens of people who said they were relatives of conscripts gathered along Simón Bolívar Avenue at the facility’s main entrance. Families demanded to see the young men serving there, while others said premilitary personnel had also been called in. Those who approached the barracks were moved back two blocks. At the time described in the report, officials had not confirmed the number of injured people or the cause of the explosions.

Look, this fell from the barracks. This is not pyrotechnics, and not only that, this stone fell from the explosion. How many meters away are we from the barracks?

· Unnamed residentA resident challenged the Defense Ministry’s account that stored pyrotechnic material caused the explosions.
About this summary

Originally published by El Deber in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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