At Least 10 Killed and More Than 60 Injured in Explosion at Bolivian Military Base

At least 10 people were killed and more than 60 injured after an explosion tore through a military complex in Viacha, about 30 kilometres from Bolivia’s capital, La Paz.

The blast occurred at around 2:30 p.m. local time on Friday in an area where pyrotechnic material was stored, authorities said. Local health director Rita Nebraska told Noticias Bolivision that the death toll could rise to 15. She said 62 people had been reported injured, while 14 were taken to hospitals in La Paz, including a girl with third-degree burns.

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The death toll could be as high as 15.

Police said more than 50 people were injured and that the force of the explosion damaged dozens of homes around the base. Most of the damage involved shattered windows. Ambulances, medical teams and police officers rushed to the complex to assess the scene and transport the wounded.

Officials said the stockpile of fireworks belonged to the Defence Ministry, but they had not yet established what triggered the explosion. Emergency crews also detected a remaining heat source at the site, raising concern that another blast could follow. Nebraska urged residents to keep at least 150 metres away from the area.

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Maintain a distance of at least 150 metres from the area.