An explosion at a military barracks in Viacha, a municipality roughly 30 km from La Paz, killed at least 10 people and injured dozens on Friday, local officials said.
The blast occurred at about 2:30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT) in a section of the complex used to store pyrotechnic material. Authorities said the detonation originated from the defense ministry's fireworks stockpile, although a definitive cause has not yet been established.
Viacha health director Rita Nebraska, speaking on local television, said between 10 and 15 people were believed to have died in the incident and that 62 people had been injured. Police provided a slightly different toll, saying more than 50 people were hurt and reporting that dozens of homes had sustained damage, primarily from windows shattered by the force of the blast.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the military compound following the explosion. Ambulances, medical teams and police personnel moved into the area to assess the damage and evacuate the wounded to nearby health centers.
Nebraska said 14 of the injured were transferred to hospitals in La Paz. Among those hospitalized was a girl who suffered third-degree burns. Medical teams continue to treat the wounded as authorities work to account for fatalities and check for additional casualties.
Firefighters at the scene warned that a heat source remained within the affected area at the barracks, which kept open the possibility of another explosion. They urged local residents to remain at least 150 meters away from the site until the hazard could be fully contained and the risk eliminated.
Context and immediate response
Local and regional emergency services coordinated the immediate response, focusing on evacuation, medical treatment and securing the perimeter around the damaged storage area. Authorities have not released a formal determination of the blast's cause while investigations and safety assessments continue.