Explosion at Bolivia military base kills at least two, 14 missing, ministry says

At least two people were killed and dozens injured on Friday after an explosion at a military barracks in the ‌Bolivian municipality ⁠of ⁠Viacha, about 30 km (20 miles) from La Paz, Defense Minister Ernesto Justiniano ​said.

His ministry said in a statement that 14 people were missing.

The ​blast occurred at around 2:30 p.m. (1830 GMT) in an area used to store pyrotechnic material, authorities said.


While ​the cause has yet to ⁠be established, ‌officials said the blast originated from ​the defense ​ministry's fireworks stockpile.

Earlier, the Viacha health director, ⁠Rita Nebraska, had told local television that between ​10 and 15 people were believed to have ​died in the incident, while 62 people were injured. Fourteen of the wounded were transferred to hospitals in La Paz, including a girl with third-degree burns, she said.

Police said more than 50 ‌people were injured and dozens of homes damaged, largely by windows shattered in the ​blast.

Ambulances, medical ​teams and police ⁠were deployed to the military complex to assess the damage and evacuate the wounded to health centers.

Nebraska said firefighters ​had warned that a heat source remained at the site, raising the risk of another explosion, and urged residents to stay at least 150 meters away.