At least two killed and 81 injured after explosions at Bolivian army base

Published on 05/09/2026 – 8:51 GMT+2

At least two people were killed and 81 others were injured when two powerful explosions tore through an army installation in Bolivia on Friday, according to government officials.

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Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano stated that the blasts took place at the RAM-2 “Bolívar” General Maintenance Center in Viacha, situated southwest of the administrative capital, La Paz.

Justiniano confirmed that the facility housed pyrotechnic supplies, but emphasized that “no weaponry of any kind was detonated” during the incident.

“The most important thing tonight is to protect people, attend to the injured, continue the search for those who have not yet been located, and ensure that families can return to their homes only when conditions are safe,” he said at a press briefing, noting that seven individuals were still unaccounted for.

Video footage shared across social media, purportedly capturing one of the explosions, displays a massive fireball and a towering column of smoke ascending into the sky.

According to the minister, initial findings indicate that the first detonation stemmed from black powder contained within stored pyrotechnic materials. The subsequent blast, described as “much larger,” remains under investigation.

President Rodrigo Paz conveyed his “deepest sympathy” to the victims’ families and those wounded, addressing the public through a post on X. He also announced that he had directed authorities to launch a comprehensive, technically rigorous, and transparent probe into the events.

“We must establish with absolute clarity the causes of this incident, verify compliance with safety protocols, and determine who is responsible,” Paz stated.

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