At least two killed, dozens injured in Bolivia military barracks explosion
An explosion at a military barracks in Viacha, Bolivia, killed at least two people, injured dozens and left 14 missing, authorities said.
Viacha, Bolivia. At least two people were killed and dozens injured on Friday after an explosion at a military barracks in Viacha, about 30 kilometres from La Paz, Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano said. The defence ministry said 14 people were missing.
Blast at pyrotechnic storage area
The explosion occurred at about 2.30pm local time in an area used to store pyrotechnic material, authorities said.
The cause had not been established, but officials said the blast originated from the defence ministry’s fireworks stockpile.
Casualties and damage
Viacha health director Rita Nebraska earlier told local television that between 10 and 15 people were believed to have died and 62 were injured.
Fourteen injured people were transferred to hospitals in La Paz, including a girl with third-degree burns, Nebraska said.
Police said more than 50 people were injured and dozens of homes were damaged, mainly by windows shattered by the blast.
Emergency response
Ambulances, medical teams and police were deployed to the military complex to assess the damage and evacuate the injured to health centres.
Firefighters warned that a heat source remained at the site, creating a risk of another explosion. Nebraska urged residents to remain at least 150 metres away.
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