Tragedy at a military base in Bolivia: 7 dead and 7 people missing

A powerful explosion at a military base in Bolivia has killed seven people, while seven others remain missing.

The tragic incident occurred on Friday, September 4, at around 2:30 p.m. local time, at a barracks in Viacha, approximately 30 kilometers from the capital, La Paz.

The explosion affected an area of the base used to store pyrotechnic materials.

Bolivia’s Army Commander, Hector Alarcón, confirmed the death toll and announced that emergency teams were continuing operations to locate those reported missing.

During a media conference, Alarcón stressed that the priority remained locating the missing military personnel and informing their families as quickly as possible.

The exact cause of the explosion has not yet been confirmed. Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira said investigators were examining, as one of the main lines of inquiry, the possibility that the explosives stored at the facility had been handled improperly.

The authorities have opened an investigation to fully clarify the circumstances of the incident and determine whether safety protocols were properly followed.

Health Minister Marcela Flores announced that a total of 84 people had received medical treatment following the incident. Of these, 31 remain hospitalized.

Following the tragedy, President Paz Pereira declared national mourning and ordered a review of safety protocols within the Armed Forces.

The head of state also called on the authorities and political forces not to use the incident for political purposes, as investigations to fully clarify what happened continue.