At least two people have been killed and 81 injured in a blast at a Bolivia military barracks.
Bolivian Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano said the detonation, which happened around 14:30 local time (18:30 GMT), hit an artillery regiment’s facilities and caused casualties and damage to nearby homes.
Health official Rita Nebraska estimated the death toll at between ten and fifteen, but officials feared the true number could be higher while seven soldiers remained missing.
Police spokesman Roger Roca confirmed the presence of fireworks stored at the barracks and said the cause of the blast was still under investigation.
Local authorities declared three days of mourning and urged residents to stay at least 150 metres from the base due to a potential for further explosions.
President Rodrigo Paz expressed his deepest solidarity with the victims’ families and announced a "thorough, technical and transparent investigation" into the incident.
