Dozens hurt, at least 10 dead in explosion at Bolivian military barracks

Thomson Reuters

· Posted: Sep 04, 2026 10:34 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 minutes ago

At least 10 people were killed and dozens more injured on Friday after an explosion at ‌a military barracks in the Bolivian municipality of Viacha, about 30 kilometres from La Paz, local authorities said.

The ​blast occurred at around 2:30 ​p.m. local time in an area used to store pyrotechnic material, authorities ​said.

While the cause has yet to ⁠be established, officials ⁠said the blast originated ‌from the defence ministry's fireworks stockpile.

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

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

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

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