Two dead and 59 injured after explosion at military facility in Bolivia

A powerful explosion at a Bolivian military facility storing pyrotechnic material killed two people and injured 59 on Friday in Viacha, a city about 30 kilometers south of La Paz. Police also reported seven people missing.

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It has been confirmed that there are two people dead.

The blast occurred at around 2:30 p.m. local time and shattered windows in nearby homes, sent debris into the air and raised a dense column of black smoke above the city. Videos shared by local media showed the scale of the explosion.

Police closed access to the area around the facility as emergency crews worked at the site. Colonel Roger Roca, a police spokesman, said the victims had not yet been fully identified. Firefighters used water tankers to reduce the remaining heat while crews prepared to clear the rubble.

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The incident is under control.

The Defense Ministry said the material that detonated belonged to fireworks assigned to the institution. President Rodrigo Paz expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and neighbors affected by the explosions, and ordered a “thorough, technical and transparent investigation.” He said authorities must establish the causes, verify compliance with safety protocols and determine any responsibilities.

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I have also ordered a thorough, technical and transparent investigation into what happened. We must establish with absolute clarity the causes of this incident, verify compliance with safety protocols and determine the responsibilities that apply.

Defense Minister Ernesto Justiniano ordered authorities to provide medical care, support affected families and neighbors, and carry out a full assessment of the damage. “At this moment, our priority is people: treating the injured, supporting their families and continuing the search and verification work,” he said.

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At this moment, our priority is people: treating the injured, supporting their families and continuing the search and verification work.