Bolivian army base blasts kill 2, wound dozens

Bolivian army base blasts kill 2, wound dozens. AFP Published September 5, 2026 Updated September 5, 2026 11: 34am.

Key points

• Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano remarked "pyrotechnic material" was stored at the base in Viacha, southwest of Bolivia's administrative capital La Paz.
• It happened at around 2: 30pm (1830 GMT), was under investigation, he remarked in an official note.
• Two explosions at an army barracks in Bolivia killed at least two individuals and wounded 81 on Friday, authorities stated.
• An earlier police report remarked 59 residents were wounded, at least 52 of them civilians.
• Footage circulated by local media indicated a thick column of black smoke rising from the city center.

For context, the exact cause of the blasts. It happened at around 2: 30pm (1830 GMT), was under investigation, he remarked in an official note.

Houses in the area were damaged by the blasts, with footage showing shattered windows, broken ceilings and scattered debris.

Justiniano remarked two residents were confirmed dead and seven individuals were missing.

Meanwhile, the wounded, including two individuals in "serious condition, " were taken to medical centres, he went on.

For context, the dead and missing were soldiers serving at the base, the defence ministry remarked.

Meanwhile, an earlier police report remarked 59 residents were wounded, at least 52 of them civilians.

Firefighters rushed to the base after the blasts, and residents were evacuated to a temporary shelter.

Notably, the power supply was cut off in the area, where dozens of police officers had been deployed, an AFP journalist observed.

President Rodrigo Paz expressed his "deep solidarity with the families of the deceased, the injured and all residents affected by the explosions." He remarked he had ordered a "thorough, technical and transparent" investigation.

"We must establish with absolute clarity the causes of this event, verify compliance with safety protocols and determine any responsibilities that may arise, " he remarked in a post on X. Viacha's authorities have declared three days of mourning. According to Justiniano, there were two successive blasts.

For context, the first detonation was believed to have involved "black powder corresponding to pyrotechnic material stored at the site, " he remarked.

It was followed by a "second detonation of much greater magnitude, " he remarked, adding that the cause and the material that exploded were still being determined. The defence ministry remarked no military weapons had been detonated.

"At this time, our priority is people: caring for the injured, supporting their families, and continuing search and verification efforts, " Justiniano remarked.

Taken together, the developments around bolivian army base blasts kill 2, wound dozens point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.