Explosion at Bolivian Military Base Kills at Least Two, 14 Missing

AFP

Firefighters, police officers and military personnel at the site of an explosion at an army barracks in Viacha.

At least two people were killed and dozens injured on Friday after an explosion at a military barracks in the Bolivian municipality of Viacha, about 30 kilometres from La Paz, Reuters reported citing Bolivian Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano.

According to Reuters, Bolivia's Defence Ministry said in a statement that 14 people remained missing.

The explosion occurred at around 2:30pm (18:30 GMT) in an area used to store pyrotechnic materials, authorities said.

While the cause of the blast has yet to be established, officials said it originated from a stockpile of fireworks belonging to the Defence Ministry, according to Reuters.

Earlier, Viacha health director Rita Nebraska told local television that between 10 and 15 people were believed to have died, while 62 were injured. Fourteen of those wounded were transferred to hospitals in La Paz, including a girl who suffered third-degree burns, she said.

Police said more than 50 people were injured and dozens of homes were damaged, mainly by windows shattered by the blast.

Ambulances, medical teams and police were deployed to the military complex to assess the damage and evacuate the injured to health centres.

Nebraska said firefighters had warned that a source of heat remained at the site, raising the risk of a further explosion, and urged residents to stay at least 150 metres away from the area.



PUKMEDIA