At least two people were killed and dozens injured after an explosion at a military barracks in the Bolivian municipality of Viacha, about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from La Paz, Reuters reported, citing Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano.
The defence ministry said in a statement that 14 people were missing.
The blast occurred at around 2:30 p.m. (1830 GMT) in an area used to store pyrotechnic material, authorities said. The cause has yet to be established, but officials said the explosion originated from the ministry’s fireworks stockpile.
Earlier, Viacha health director Rita Nebraska had told local television that between ten and 15 people were believed to have died, 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.
(Reuters)
