At least ten people have been killed and more than 80 injured after two explosions tore through a military facility in Viacha, a city roughly 30 kilometres southwest of Bolivia's administrative capital, La Paz. Seven people remain missing, and local health officials fear the final death toll could be higher.
The blasts occurred on Friday afternoon, around 14:30 local time, at a barracks where an artillery regiment was stationed and where pyrotechnic material, including fireworks, was being stored. Footage circulating on social media showed windows shattering in nearby buildings as debris flew into the air and thick black smoke rose from the site. Police said dozens of homes in the surrounding area were damaged, with many civilians hurt by shattered glass. Among the wounded was a young girl transferred to a hospital in La Paz with third-degree burns; in total, 14 of the most seriously injured were moved to the capital's medical facilities.
Viacha's health director, Rita Nebraska, said between 10 and 15 people were believed to have died, while some 62 people were confirmed injured. The deputy minister of defence said approximately 50 civilians and six military personnel had been treated at medical centres in Viacha. Emergency workers continued to search rubble for the missing, though firefighters warned that a heat source remained active at the site, prompting authorities to urge residents to stay at least 150 metres away due to the risk of further explosions.
The cause of the blasts is still under investigation. Police spokesman Roger Roca confirmed that fireworks were stored at the facility but said investigators had yet to determine what triggered the detonation. The defence ministry said the inquiry would also examine how the pyrotechnic material was stored and whether any individuals bore responsibility for the conditions on site.
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz expressed his "deepest solidarity" with the victims' families and pledged a "thorough, technical and transparent investigation." Viacha's authorities have declared three days of mourning. The incident raises broader questions about safety standards at military installations used to store explosive or pyrotechnic materials in civilian-adjacent areas.