“Today is not about finding someone to blame”: Paz visits Viacha and announces national mourning for tragedy

President Rodrigo Paz arrived in Viacha visibly affected by the tragedy and announced that Bolivia would declare national mourning after two explosions killed seven people and injured 84 others.

Paz said the mourning period would not halt activities. Flags would instead fly at half-staff as “a sign of respect.” He said the measure should remind Bolivians that, despite their differences, they remain one family facing a difficult moment together.

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After this moment, I will be in cabinet, and we are announcing national mourning, which beyond mourning itself is about not forgetting that we are all one family.

“After this moment, I will be in cabinet, and we are announcing national mourning,” Paz said at a news conference. He expressed solidarity with the affected families and said he had spoken directly with some of those impacted.

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Today is not about finding someone to blame, but about easing the pain and helping the families.

“Today is not about finding someone to blame, but about easing the pain and helping the families,” he said. “We must act quickly with those who have been affected.”

The explosions occurred Friday afternoon at the Bolívar regiment in Viacha. The first was described as a mild blast. About 20 minutes later, a more powerful explosion struck while many people had gathered near the barracks out of curiosity, according to Marco Martínez, the municipal director for environmental management and risk. Search teams were still looking for bodies of people reported missing among the rubble.

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The first was a mild explosion, then, about 20 minutes later, there was a second explosion with a greater impact.