An explosion involving pyrotechnic material occurred at a military barracks in Viacha, Bolivia, on Friday afternoon, September 4, 2026. While the Ministry of Defence initially confirmed two deaths, local health official Rita Nebraska stated that the death toll is expected to be higher, with estimates suggesting between 10 and 15 people may have died. Emergency workers are searching the rubble and seven people remain missing.
Bolivian Deputy Minister of Defence Ernesto Justiniano Urenda reported that 62 people were injured. Among the wounded are approximately 50 civilians and six military personnel. Nebraska noted that 14 individuals were transferred to hospitals in La Paz, including a girl who sustained third-degree burns.
The blast took place around 14:30 local time at a facility housing an artillery regiment, located approximately 30 kilometers from La Paz. The incident involved stored fireworks or pyrotechnic material, according to military and police officials.
Local authorities in Viacha have declared three days of official mourning. Police reported that dozens of nearby homes sustained damage, primarily consisting of windows shattered by the force of the blast.
Health officials established an exclusion zone, instructing residents to stay at least 150 meters away from the barracks due to the risk of secondary explosions while firefighters work to neutralize remaining heat sources.
Investigators from the Ministry of Defence and police are working to determine the cause of the detonation and whether storage protocols were followed. Currently, the site remains cordoned as search and rescue efforts continue.