At least 10 people were killed and dozens more injured on Friday after an explosion at a military barracks in the Bolivian municipality of Viacha, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from La Paz, local authorities said. The blast occurred at around 2:30 p.m. (1830 GMT) in an area used to store pyrotechnic material, according to authorities.

Officials said the blast originated from the defense ministry's fireworks stockpile, though the exact cause has yet to be established. Viacha health director Rita Nebraska told local television that between 10 and 15 people were believed to have died in the incident, with 62 people injured. She added that 14 of the wounded were transferred to hospitals in La Paz, including a girl with third-degree burns.

Police reported more than 50 people 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.

Bolivia's Defence Minister, Ernesto Justiniano, said at least 58 people had been injured when "pyrotechnic material" detonated at the barracks. He wrote on social media that 52 of the injured were civilians, while the remainder were military personnel. Justiniano cited preliminary reports of possible fatalities but said he could not yet confirm a death toll. He said rescue teams were treating the injured and assisting their families.

Firefighters warned that a heat source remained at the site, raising the risk of another explosion. Nebraska urged residents to stay at least 150 meters away from the military base. The shockwave shattered windows and structurally damaged dozens of nearby civilian homes.

Video footage shared on social media showed a column of thick black smoke billowing from the barracks, which is located in the city center. Viacha, home to roughly 100,000 residents, lies about 30 kilometers southwest of Bolivia's administrative capital, La Paz.

In an earlier statement, the defense ministry had reported material damage but said no one had been injured. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the explosion.