Two people were confirmed dead, 14 military personnel remained unaccounted for and 84 people were injured after two explosions at a military complex in Viacha, Bolivia, officials said Saturday. The blasts struck the Bolívar artillery regiment on Friday afternoon, about 30 kilometres southwest of the administrative capital, La Paz, and emergency crews continued searching the damaged compound while authorities warned that the area remained dangerous.
Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano said the missing personnel had not been declared dead and that officials would release further information only after verification. EFE reported that 47 of the injured had left medical care by Saturday, while other patients remained in hospitals in Viacha, El Alto and La Paz. Bolivia's Health Ministry appealed for urgent blood donations because several patients needed transfusions and blood-bank reserves were limited.
Authorities said the explosions occurred in a section of the base used to store pyrotechnic material. Bolivia TV reported that the first detonation apparently involved black powder linked to stored fireworks, while specialists were still examining the larger second blast. Investigators also found explosive boosters in the compound, according to an official briefing reported by EFE, but the precise sequence and cause had not been established.
The La Paz departmental prosecutor opened an investigation into possible negligent homicide, negligent injury and other public-danger offences. Forensic investigators and police secured the site and recovered the two confirmed victims, while specialist teams assessed unstable debris before heavy machinery could enter. The Ombudsman's Office said it was monitoring the rescue work and hospital treatment and coordinating safe, supervised access for residents who needed to reach their homes.
The shock waves shattered windows and damaged nearby houses, leaving residents uncertain about when they could safely return. Authorities maintained a security cordon, evacuated dangerous material from another damaged storage area and asked the public to remain away from the base. The city of Viacha declared three days of mourning as families waited for news about the missing service members.
Search, debris-removal and forensic work were expected to continue as safety conditions permitted. Officials said protecting residents and locating the missing remained the priorities, while the criminal inquiry must determine how the stored materials ignited and whether failures in storage or handling contributed to the disaster. The casualty figures may change as teams gain access to the most heavily damaged parts of the complex.
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