Bolivian army base blasts kill 2, wound dozens

On Friday, two explosions at a Bolivian army barracks in Viacha, southwest of the country’s administrative capital La Paz, killed at least two people and wounded 81 others, according to authorities. Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano stated that pyrotechnic material was stored at the base. The exact cause of the blasts, which occurred around 2:30pm (1830 GMT), is under investigation.

Footage from local media showed a thick column of black smoke rising from the city center, with houses damaged by shattered windows, broken ceilings, and scattered debris. Defence Minister Justiniano confirmed that two people were dead and seven were missing, with all victims being soldiers at the base. Seven people were reported to be in serious condition and were taken to medical centers.

The dead and missing included soldiers. An earlier police report stated that 59 people were wounded, at least 52 of them civilians. Firefighters responded to the scene, and residents were evacuated to a temporary shelter. Power was cut off in the area, where dozens of police officers were deployed. President Rodrigo Paz expressed deep solidarity with the affected families and ordered a thorough, technical, and transparent investigation to determine the causes and responsibilities.

Viacha’s authorities declared three days of mourning. Justiniano noted that there were two successive blasts; the first involved black powder consistent with pyrotechnic material stored at the site, followed by a second, much larger detonation. The defence ministry affirmed that no military weapons were detonated. At present, the priority is to care for the injured, support their families, and continue search and verification efforts.