At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured Friday after an explosion at a military barracks in Viacha, Bolivia about 30 km from La Paz as the local authorities said.
The blast struck around 2:30pm local time in an area storing pyrotechnic material. Officials said it originated from the defense ministry's fireworks stockpile though the exact cause remains unknown.
Viacha health director Rita Nebraska told local television that 10 to 15 people were believed dead while 62 were injured. Fourteen of the wounded including a girl with third-degree burns were transferred to hospitals in La Paz.
Police said more than 50 people were hurt and dozens of homes damaged, mostly from shattered windows.
Ambulances with medical teams and police were deployed to assess damage and evacuate the wounded.
Nebraska said firefighters warned that a heat source remained at the site, raising fears of another explosion and urged residents to stay at least 150 meters away.
