Blasts at Bolivian military base kill at least 10, injure dozens | Military News

Authorities say seven persons are nonetheless lacking after lethal explosions at a facility storing pyrotechnic materials.

Two explosions at a army facility within the Bolivian metropolis of Viacha have killed no less than 10 individuals and injured dozens of others, authorities mentioned.

The blasts occurred on Friday in an space used to retailer pyrotechnic materials, about 30km (18 miles) from the executive capital, La Paz, Bolivia’s Ministry of Defence mentioned.

Viacha well being director Rita Nebraska instructed an area tv station that between 10 and 15 individuals had been believed to have been killed and 62 others had been injured.

She mentioned 14 of the wounded had been transferred to hospitals in La Paz, together with a lady with third-degree burns.

Fireworks had been saved on the army facility, however the reason for the explosions stays beneath investigation, police spokesman Roger Roca mentioned. He added that seven individuals had been nonetheless lacking.

Firefighters warned {that a} warmth supply remained on the website, Nebraska mentioned, urging residents to remain no less than 150 metres away due to the chance of one other explosion.

Police mentioned dozens of close by properties had been broken and that many civilians had been injured by shattered glass.

About 50 civilians and 6 army personnel injured within the explosions “have been handled … by the completely different medical centres of Viacha”, Deputy Minister of Defence Ernesto Justiniano Urenda mentioned in a press release.

An investigation is beneath approach to decide the reason for the explosions, how the pyrotechnic materials was saved and whether or not anybody was accountable, he added.

Footage posted on social media confirmed one of many explosions shattering home windows in close by buildings and sending particles into the air as thick black smoke rose from the power.