Fourth Body Found as Death Toll Rises to Four in Viacha Explosion Tragedy

The death toll from two explosions at the Bolívar barracks in Viacha rose to four on Sunday after search teams found another body. Eleven people remain unaccounted for, Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano said.

Three of the victims had been identified by the time the fourth body was found. Authorities were still working to establish the identity of the latest victim. The search is continuing inside the military installation, where the blasts damaged buildings and storage areas in an urban part of Viacha.

Justiniano said preliminary information points to two separate detonations. The first may have involved black powder used in pyrotechnic material stored at the site. The second explosion was considerably more powerful, and investigators have not determined what caused it.

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We have never stated that the entire tragedy was caused by pyrotechnics.

“We have never stated that the entire tragedy was caused by pyrotechnics,” Justiniano said. He added that experts must determine what triggered the second blast and why pyrotechnic material was stored inside the military facility. Investigators are reviewing inventories, records, the material’s date of entry, those responsible for its custody and the chain of custody.

The police, armed forces, public prosecutor’s office, Viacha municipality and specialist teams are coordinating the response. The site remains dangerous. Justiniano said a large structure beside the damaged storage areas contains military material and a large quantity of grenades. The structure was compromised by the explosions, and specialists have begun removing the material carefully.

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We will establish through documents and expert examinations what material was there, why it was there, since when and under whose responsibility.