At least two people were killed and 81 were injured following two blasts at an army base in Bolivia on Friday, authorities said.
Bolivian Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano said the powerful explosions occurred at the RAM-2 “Bolívar” General Maintenance Center in Viacha, southwest of the administrative capital La Paz.
According to Justiniano, the site was used to store "pyrotechnic material." He added 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 told reporters, adding that seven people remained missing.
Footage circulating on social media appearing to capture one of the blasts shows a huge explosion and plume of smoke rising into the air.
Justiniano said preliminary information showed the first explosion "involved black powder from pyrotechnic material stored at the site," while the second, "much larger" blast was still being investigated.
In a post on X, Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz expressed his "deepest sympathy" with the families of the victims and those injured in the explosions.
"I have also ordered a thorough, technical, and transparent investigation into what happened," he wrote. "We must establish with absolute clarity the causes of this incident, verify compliance with safety protocols, and determine who is responsible".
