At least 10 individuals lost their lives, and numerous others sustained injuries on Friday following an explosion at a military facility in Viacha, Bolivia, located approximately 30 kilometers from La Paz, as reported by local officials. The incident transpired around 2:30 p.m. local time in a section designated for storing pyrotechnic materials, according to authorities. While the exact cause is yet to be determined, officials indicated that the explosion originated from the defense ministry’s fireworks repository.
Rita Nebraska, the health director in Viacha, mentioned on local television that an estimated 10 to 15 individuals perished in the event, with 62 individuals sustaining injuries. Among the injured, fourteen were transferred to hospitals in La Paz, including a young girl with severe third-degree burns. Reports from the police indicated that over 50 individuals were wounded, and numerous residences were impacted, primarily due to shattered windows from the explosion.
Emergency services including ambulances, medical teams, and law enforcement were dispatched to the military compound to evaluate the extent of the damage and facilitate the evacuation of the injured to medical facilities. Nebraska cautioned that a potential heat source persisted at the scene, heightening the risk of another explosion, and advised residents to maintain a distance of at least 150 meters from the area.