At Least 10 Killed, Dozens Injured in Bolivia Military Base Blast

At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured Friday when an explosion tore through a military barracks in Viacha, a municipality about 30 kilometers from Bolivia’s capital, La Paz.

The blast occurred at about 2:30 p.m. local time in an area used to store pyrotechnic material, authorities said. Officials said it appeared to have originated from the Defense Ministry’s fireworks stockpile, but they had not established the cause.

Viacha health director Rita Nebraska told local television that between 10 and 15 people were believed to have died and that 62 people were injured. Fourteen wounded people were transferred to hospitals in La Paz, including a girl with third-degree burns.

Police said more than 50 people were injured and that dozens of homes were damaged, largely when windows shattered in the blast. Ambulances, medical teams and police went to the military complex to assess the damage and evacuate the wounded.

Nebraska said firefighters had warned that a heat source remained at the site, creating a risk of another explosion. She urged residents to stay at least 150 meters away.