Viacha declares municipal disaster after explosions at Bolívar barracks

Viacha has declared a municipal disaster after explosions at the Bolívar barracks caused casualties and material damage.

The municipal council approved Law 049/2026 on September 4 and sent it to the municipal executive for enactment and publication. The declaration will remain in force for six months under the exceptional regime established by the law.

The measure gives the municipal government authority to make the budget changes needed for direct action after the incident. It also instructs the mayor's office to coordinate and seek resources from central and departmental public institutions, as well as other entities, for contingency plans aimed at reducing and mitigating the disaster's effects.

Municipal units may also begin legal action, where appropriate, against individuals or legal entities, whether public or private, if they are found to have damaged public goods or services in connection with the incident.

When the six-month period ends, the municipal executive must present the council with a report on how the allocated resources were used. Viacha continues to clear debris and assess the damage. The mayor's office said engineers and architects would inspect homes affected by the blast wave, while the security perimeter around the Bolívar barracks remains expanded.