10 killed and 62 injured in explosion at military base in Bolivia

At least 10 people were killed and 62 others injured in an explosion that occurred on Friday at a military barracks in the municipality of Viacha, located about 30 kilometers from the Bolivian capital, La Paz.

Bolivian authorities said in a statement that the explosion took place in an area used for storing ammunition, without yet specifying its cause. Officials stated that it was caused by a stock of fireworks belonging to the Ministry of Defense.

Rita Nebraska, the health director in Viacha, said the death toll was believed to be between 10 and 15 people, with 62 others injured. She noted that 14 of the injured were transported to hospitals in La Paz.

She added that firefighters warned of a heat source at the explosion site, increasing the risk of another blast, and urged residents to stay at least 150 meters away from the location.

Multilateral organizations

Meanwhile, police reported that more than 50 people were injured in the incident, along with dozens of homes damaged, mostly due to shattered windows caused by the force of the explosion.

Ambulances, medical teams, and security forces were deployed within the military complex to assess the damage and transport the injured to health centers.