▲ Scene of the explosion at a Bolivian military base
The death toll from an explosion at a military base in Bolivia has risen to 3, according to local daily El Deber and AFP reports on the 6th (local time).
According to the reports, the accident occurred on the afternoon of the 4th at the explosives storage facility of the Bolívar Mechanized Artillery Regiment maintenance center in the city of Viacha, about 35 kilometers away from the capital, La Paz.
Due to two consecutive powerful explosions, 3 people have died, 14 are missing, and 84 others have been injured so far.
All of the victims who died are military personnel.
Following the deaths of two new recruits in their first year of service, an additional body was recovered during the search through the debris.
It has been confirmed that the 14 missing individuals also consist of 1 non-commissioned officer and 13 new recruits.
The impact of the blast blew off the roofs of base buildings, uprooted nearby trees, and shattered windows in dozens of surrounding homes, prompting residents to temporarily evacuate due to the cascading damage.
Bolivian Defense Minister Ernesto Justiniano said, "The risk level at the site remains high due to the presence of unexploded ordnance."
Military authorities and rescue teams are carrying out search operations for the missing and debris removal while controlling the risk of secondary accidents.
The Bolivian Prosecutor's Office has formed a dedicated investigation team to look into the exact cause of the accident.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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