A significant explosion occurred at a military barracks in Viacha, Bolivia, on Friday afternoon, resulting in confirmed fatalities and numerous injuries. Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano reported that at least 81 people sustained injuries when pyrotechnic material detonated at the facility, which housed an artillery regiment. The blast took place around 18:30 GMT at a location approximately 30 kilometers from the capital, La Paz.
While official reports confirmed at least two deaths, health official Rita Nebraska indicated that between 10 and 15 fatalities may have occurred in the incident. Additionally, seven individuals remained unaccounted for following the explosion. The blast caused significant damage to the surrounding area, with police reporting that dozens of homes in the vicinity were affected by the force of the detonation.
Emergency response personnel conducted search operations through the rubble in the aftermath of the incident. Nebraska cautioned that a risk of further explosions existed and advised residents to maintain a distance of at least 150 meters from the military installation. Police spokesman Roger Roca stated that fireworks had been stored at the barracks and that investigators were working to determine the exact cause of the blast.
President Rodrigo Paz issued a statement expressing solidarity with affected families and pledged that a comprehensive and transparent investigation would be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the explosion. Local authorities in Viacha declared a three-day period of mourning in response to the tragedy.
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