Explosions at Bolivian Military Facility Result in 10 Deaths and Numerous Injuries

Two explosions at a military facility in Viacha, Bolivia, have resulted in at least 10 fatalities and injured dozens of others, according to authorities. The blasts occurred on Friday at a site approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) from La Paz, where pyrotechnic materials were stored, as reported by Bolivia’s Ministry of Defence. Rita Nebraska, the health director of Viacha, stated that between 10 and 15 individuals were believed to have died, with 62 others injured. Fourteen of the injured were transported to hospitals in La Paz, including a girl suffering from third-degree burns. Police spokesman Roger Roca indicated that seven individuals remain missing following the incident. Firefighters have cautioned that a heat source is still present at the site, advising residents to maintain a distance of at least 150 meters due to the potential for further explosions. Authorities reported damage to numerous nearby homes, with many civilians affected by shattered glass. Deputy Minister of Defence Ernesto Justiniano Urenda confirmed that around 50 civilians and six military personnel injured in the explosions have received treatment at various medical centers in Viacha. An investigation is currently underway to ascertain the cause of the explosions, the storage conditions of the pyrotechnic materials, and any potential accountability. Footage shared on social media depicted one of the explosions breaking windows in surrounding buildings and sending debris into the air amidst thick black smoke rising from the facility.