Explosion at Bolivia military base kills at least 2, 14 missing, says ministry

At least two people were killed and ‌dozens injured on Friday after an explosion at a military barracks in the Bolivian municipality of Viacha, about 30 km (20 miles) ​from La Paz, Defense Minister Ernesto Justiniano said. His ministry ​said in a statement that 14 people were ⁠missing.The blast occurred at around 2:30 p.m. (1830 GMT) in ​an area used to store pyrotechnic material, authorities said. The blast occurred at around 2:30 p.m. (1830 GMT) in ​an area used to store pyrotechnic material, authorities said. While ​the cause has yet to be established, officials said the blast originated from the Defense Ministry's fireworks stockpile. Earlier, the Viacha health director, ​Rita Nebraska, had told local television that between 10 ​and 15 people were believed to have died in the incident, while ‌62 ⁠people were injured. Fourteen of the wounded were transferred to hospitals in La Paz, including a girl with third-degree burns, she said. Police said more than 50 people were ​injured and dozens ​of homes ⁠damaged, largely by windows shattered in the blast. Ambulances, medical teams and police were deployed ​to the military complex to assess the ​damage and ⁠evacuate the wounded to health centers.Nebraska said firefighters had warned that a heat source remained at the site, raising ⁠the ​risk of another explosion, and urged ​residents to stay at least 150 meters away. Nebraska said firefighters had warned that a heat source remained at the site, raising ⁠the ​risk of another explosion, and urged ​residents to stay at least 150 meters away.