Army Base Blasts

Two explosions at an army barracks in Bolivia killed at least two people and wounded 81 on Friday, authorities said. Defense Minister Ernesto Justiniano said "pyrotechnic material" was stored at the base in Viacha, southwest of Bolivia's administrative capital La Paz.

The exact cause of the blasts, which happened at around 2:30 PM, was under investigation. Footage circulated by local media showed a thick column of black smoke rising from the city center. Houses in the area were damaged by the blasts, with footage showing shattered windows, broken ceilings and scattered debris.

Deep solidarity

Two people were confirmed dead and seven people were missing, all soldiers serving at the base. The wounded, including two people in serious condition, were taken to medical centers. President Rodrigo Paz expressed his "deep solidarity with the families of the deceased, the injured and all residents affected by the explosions" and ordered a "thorough, technical and transparent" investigation.

Justiniano said there were two successive blasts. The first detonation was believed to have involved "black powder corresponding to pyrotechnic material stored at the site." It was followed by a "second detonation of much greater magnitude," he said, adding that the cause and the material that exploded were still being determined. The defense ministry said no military weapons had been detonated.