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Bolivia’s military base blast death toll has risen to three, with rescue teams searching for more missing people.
The explosions occurred Friday afternoon at a facility storing explosives, including grenades and TNT, in Viacha, 30 kilometres southwest of La Paz.
Prosecutor Katherine Ramirez said Saturday that rescuers recovered a man’s body from the rubble, bringing the death toll to three.
Another 84 people were injured in the explosions, while 14 soldiers were reported missing earlier.
According to defence officials, the missing personnel include a sergeant and 13 conscripts aged 18 to 19.
Ramirez did not say whether the discovery of the third body had reduced the number of missing soldiers.
Rescue teams continued clearing debris while families gathered outside the police cordon seeking information about their relatives.
Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano warned that “the risk in the area is still high” because powerful explosives remain at the site.
“In a specific area we went in and we still saw some devices… TNT with great explosive power,” Justiniano said.
The first explosion involved “black powder, corresponding to pyrotechnic material stored at the site,” Justiniano said Friday.
Authorities were still investigating the cause of the second and larger explosion.
The blasts damaged dozens of nearby homes, tearing off roofs, shattering windows, sending rocks flying and uprooting trees.
President Rodrigo Paz expressed “deep solidarity” with the victims and ordered a “thorough, technical and transparent” investigation.
“We must establish with absolute clarity the causes of this event, verify compliance with safety protocols and determine any responsibilities that may arise,” Paz said on X.
The Ministry of Defence has created a “crisis committee” to assist those affected.
