Explosion at Bolivian military base kills at least 10 and injures dozens

At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured Friday when an explosion struck a military barracks in Viacha, about 30 kilometers from La Paz, local authorities said.

The blast occurred around 2:30 p.m. in an area used to store pyrotechnic material. Officials said it originated from the Defence Ministry’s fireworks stockpile, but the cause had not been established.

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 dozens of homes were damaged, mainly by windows shattered in the blast. Ambulances, medical teams and police were sent to the complex to assess the damage and evacuate the wounded. Nebraska said firefighters had warned that heat remained at the site, creating a risk of another explosion, and urged residents to stay at least 150 meters away.

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between 10 and 15 people were believed to have died in the incident, while 62 people were injured.