Explosion at Bolivia Military Base Kills Two, Leaves 14 Missing

At least two people have been killed and 14 others remain missing after a powerful explosion ripped through a military facility in Bolivia, sending shock waves through nearby communities and leaving dozens injured, authorities said.

The blast occurred on Friday afternoon at the Bolívar military barracks in Viacha, about 30–35 kilometres from La Paz, Bolivia’s administrative capital.

Bolivia’s Defence Ministry said the explosion occurred in an area used to store pyrotechnic material and described the initial incident as an accidental detonation. Authorities have launched an investigation into how the material exploded and whether storage conditions contributed to the disaster.

The explosion occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. local time, according to officials.

Residents in surrounding neighbourhoods reported hearing powerful blasts, while the shock wave damaged windows and doors in homes close to the military installation.

Police, firefighters, ambulances and medical teams were immediately deployed to the scene as authorities established a security perimeter around the facility.

More than 50 people were reported injured, with several requiring hospital treatment. Reuters reported that at least 14 injured people were transferred to hospitals in La Paz, including a girl who suffered third-degree burns.

The biggest concern for emergency teams is the fate of those still unaccounted for.

Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano said 14 people were missing as rescue and verification operations continued.

Earlier police reporting had put the number of missing people at seven, illustrating how rapidly the casualty figures were changing as authorities searched the military complex and accounted for personnel and civilians.

Officials have urged residents to stay away from the area while emergency crews assess the site.

Firefighters warned that a continuing heat source remained at the scene, raising concerns that additional material could ignite and trigger another explosion. Authorities established a safety perimeter of approximately 150 metres around the affected area.

The explosion did not remain confined to the military compound.

The force of the blast shattered windows and damaged homes in surrounding neighbourhoods, leaving residents shaken.

Videos circulating from Viacha showed a large plume of smoke rising from the military facility as residents gathered outside to assess the damage.

Emergency teams have been working to evacuate injured people and determine the extent of the structural damage inside the barracks.

Authorities have not yet established the precise circumstances that triggered the explosion.

The Defence Ministry said the material involved was part of its fireworks/pyrotechnic stockpile.

A technical investigation has been ordered to determine what caused the detonation, how the material was stored and whether any responsibility should be assigned.

Police said they were also conducting investigations at the scene and had not wanted to speculate about the cause before the technical assessment was completed.

The incident has been complicated by conflicting early reports.

While government authorities confirmed two deaths and 14 missing people in the latest information cited by Reuters, other reports have circulated significantly higher preliminary death tolls.

Local health authorities have also reported dozens of injured people, including civilians, military personnel, police and young people undergoing military training.

Because rescue and identification operations were still continuing, authorities warned that the numbers could change.

For now, emergency teams remain at the scene searching for those missing and securing the facility against further explosions.

The investigation into one of Bolivia’s most serious recent military accidents is continuing.