At least 10 dead, 62 injured after explosion at Bolivian army base

Officials say the blast originated from the defence ministry’s fireworks stockpile at a facility in the western city of Viacha At least 10 people were killed and 62 injured on Friday after an explosion at a military barracks in the western Bolivian city of Viacha, local authorities said. The blast took place at around 2.30pm at a military facility used to store pyrotechnic material. 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. She added that 14 of the wounded were transferred to hospitals in La ‌Paz, including a girl with third-degree burns. Police said dozens of homes in the surrounding area were damaged, largely by ‌windows shattered in the blast. Earlier on Friday, Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano wrote on social media that 52 of those injured were civilians, while the remainder were military personnel. Video footage shared on social media showed a column of thick black smoke billowing from the barracks, which is in the city centre.

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