VIACHA, Bolivia — A deadly explosion inside a military complex near La Paz has left dozens injured and triggered an investigation into pyrotechnic material stored at the facility, as authorities work to reconcile conflicting reports about the number of people killed.
La explosión en un cuartel militar en La Paz, Bolivia, dejó 59 heridos y dos muertos. Varios de los heridos se encontraban graves, explicó Jenrry Patzi, alcalde de Viacha. https://t.co/HHODvb5z9C
— NMás (@nmas) September 5, 2026
Foto: Reuters pic.twitter.com/5oXs7lxG3m
The blasts struck the RAM-2 “Bolívar” facility in Viacha on Friday, September 4. A later police count reported two people dead, 59 injured and seven missing. Separately, Viacha health director Rita Nebraska gave a preliminary estimate that between 10 and 15 people may have died. The higher figure had not been reconciled with the police count.
At a glance: What authorities have reported
- Location: RAM-2 “Bolívar” military facility, Viacha
- Time: Around 2:30 p.m. local time Friday
- Police count: 2 dead, 59 injured, 7 missing
- Earlier injury breakdown: 52 civilians and 6 military personnel
- Material involved: Pyrotechnics/fireworks stored at the facility
- Safety warning: Residents were advised to remain at least 150 metres away
- Cause: Under investigation
WATCH: New video shows the explosion at a military base in Viacha, Bolivia.
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) September 5, 2026
At least 2 people were killed and 58 others were injured, including 52 civilians and 6 military personnel. 7 people unaccounted for. pic.twitter.com/dUAhhPNBgl
Powerful blasts reached homes outside the base
The explosion occurred at about 2:30 p.m. local time at the Centro General de Mantenimiento associated with the military facility. Authorities said pyrotechnic material, including fireworks held as part of the Defence Ministry’s inventory, was stored in the affected area.
Residents reported powerful detonations, with accounts indicating that a second blast was stronger. Images from the scene showed thick smoke rising over the facility, while the pressure wave reportedly shattered windows and damaged properties outside the military perimeter.
Viacha lies roughly 30 kilometres southwest of Bolivia’s administrative capital, La Paz, and has around 100,000 residents. Its populated surroundings help explain why civilians accounted for most of the initially reported injuries.
Why the Bolivia explosion death toll is unclear
The casualty count changed rapidly as emergency teams reached the scene.
Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano initially reported 58 injuries, comprising 52 civilians and six military personnel. Police later put the number injured at 59 and reported two deaths and seven missing people.
Nebraska subsequently gave a substantially higher preliminary death estimate of between 10 and 15. Reports also indicated that minors were among those receiving medical attention.
For readers following the developing story, the distinction matters: the higher death estimate should not yet be treated as the final confirmed toll. Police, hospitals and health authorities may report different numbers until identification and search operations are completed.
Could there be another explosion?
The condition of the site became an immediate concern after the initial blasts. Nebraska said firefighters had warned that a heat source remained, creating a possible risk of another explosion.
Residents were advised to remain at least 150 metres from the facility while emergency crews assessed the area. The warning was especially significant because the condition of any remaining pyrotechnic material had not been fully established.
Securing a wider perimeter is common when the hazard itself has not been eliminated. A recent explosion near Augsburg’s main train station similarly required authorities to restrict access while determining whether further danger remained.
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Search for missing people continues
Ambulances, firefighters, police, military personnel and medical teams were sent to the Viacha complex. Victims were evacuated to health facilities while rescue crews searched damaged areas and assisted families seeking information about relatives.
The seven people listed as missing in the police update made the search particularly urgent. Rubble and concerns about remaining hazardous material complicated access to parts of the facility.
Large emergencies can require medical treatment, rescue work and preservation of the scene for investigators at the same time. The response to the Ballyhaunis train crash emergency similarly illustrated why access to a major incident scene may remain tightly controlled during rescue and investigative work.
What caused the Viacha military base explosion?
Authorities have confirmed the presence of pyrotechnic material, but they have not confirmed what ignited it.
Justiniano ordered an investigation into the cause and the conditions under which the material was stored. Police have cautioned against speculation while evidence is being examined.
A report citing Bolivian police said specialist teams were working at the damaged site as authorities continued the search and casualty assessment.
Why the first official report changed so dramatically
Early information from the Defence Ministry initially described material damage without reported casualties. That picture changed as emergency workers reached victims and hospitals began receiving patients.
Investigators now face several key questions: what triggered the first explosion, how much pyrotechnic material was stored there, whether storage conditions contributed to the disaster and whether the site poses any continuing threat to nearby residents.
The casualty figures may change again as search teams complete their work and authorities reconcile information from hospitals, police, the military and local health services.
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