Fear and uncertainty grip Bolivia’s Viacha after explosions at military barracks

Residents of Viacha remained outside a security cordon on Saturday, fearful that the explosions at a nearby military barracks might not be over. The blasts, which occurred Friday afternoon, killed two people, left 14 military personnel unaccounted for and injured 84, according to Defense Minister Ernesto Justiniano. At least 47 of the injured had been discharged from hospital.

Esther Cruz, who lives near the RAM-2 “Bolívar” Mechanized Artillery Regiment, said her house shook “like an earthquake.” The explosions destroyed her windows and roof, cracked the walls and continued to send pieces of the covering falling the next morning. A rock also dented her vehicle.

Another neighbor, Esther Chambi, said residents were distressed by the damage to their homes and the presence of older people in the area. Some sections had no drinking water or electricity, she said, leaving residents feeling vulnerable and “in total uncertainty.”

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The truth is, it was a huge shock. It started shaking like an earthquake.

Officials initially described the incident as an accidental detonation of pyrotechnic material. Justiniano later said there had been two explosions. The first likely involved black powder from pyrotechnic material stored at the barracks, while authorities were awaiting expert assessments and investigations to determine what caused the more powerful second blast.

Neighbor Mirka Murguía questioned whether pyrotechnics alone could explain the destruction. “We have cracks in the house, broken windows, doors, locks, everything has blown away and it is not possible that nobody takes responsibility,” she said. Justiniano cautioned that an unaccounted-for person did not necessarily mean that person had died and said authorities would provide further information.

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We have cracks in the house, broken windows, doors, locks, everything has blown away and it is not possible that nobody takes responsibility.