Viacha loses power as crews battle fire and take injured to La Paz

Two explosions at the Bolívar Regiment plunged the Bolivian town of Viacha into darkness and sent the number of injured sharply upward. A fire continued to burn near the barracks as ambulances and water tankers arrived to reinforce the emergency response.

Lizeth Villagómez, a former municipal councillor, said residents heard a powerful blast at about 3 p.m. The electricity then failed across the town, followed by more explosions. She said she could not determine whether they involved ammunition or weapons, but doubted the blasts came from fireworks.

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At around 3 p.m., an explosion was heard and all the electricity was cut off in the municipality. It was a very powerful explosion.

By 6:25 p.m., tankers were still arriving near the barracks and firefighters were joining efforts to control the fire. Villagómez said the explosions affected homes and people near the military compound, as well as several blocks around it. Residents felt the force across the town, she said, describing it as similar to a strong earthquake.

An initial list of 29 injured people became outdated in less than two hours, with the total reaching about 60. The wounded included conscripts and civilians, especially children. Residents spoke of fatalities, but Villagómez said no deaths had been verified at that point. El Alto and the departmental government had sent ambulances, and many injured conscripts were taken to the Cossmil hospital in La Paz.

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There is a lot of desperation in the municipality, because it did not only affect the houses and people nearby, but several blocks around the barracks.