Bolivian Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano said at least 81 people were injured when “pyrotechnic material” detonated at the barracks, where an artillery regiment was stationed, at around 14:30 local time (18:30 GMT) on Friday. Seven other people remain missing, BBC reported.
Health official Rita Nebraska told local television that between 10 and 15 people were believed to have died in the incident in Viacha, located about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from La Paz, Reuters reported.
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Police said the explosion damaged dozens of homes and that emergency teams were searching through the rubble.
Nebraska warned that there was a risk of another explosion and urged people to remain at least 150 meters away from the military base.
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz expressed his “deepest solidarity” with the families of those who were killed and injured in the incident.
In a social media post, he said a “thorough, technical and transparent investigation” would be carried out to determine what happened.
Police spokesman Roger Roca told AFP that fireworks had been stored at the barracks and said the cause of the explosion remained under investigation.
Authorities in Viacha have declared three days of mourning following the incident.
