Bolivia army base blast leaves families desperate for news of missing soldiers

The death toll from an explosion at an army base in the Bolivian city of Viacha has risen to three after rescuers recovered another body from the wreckage. Fourteen people remain missing, most of them young conscripts aged 18 or 19 who were serving their first year of national service. The blast destroyed a building at an artillery regiment, damaged nearby structures and injured more than 80 people. Officials say a stockpile of fireworks exploded, but the exact cause remains under investigation. Firefighters are continuing to search the debris for those still missing, while anxious families have gathered outside the site demanding information about their loved ones. Some relatives say missing soldiers were assigned to other duties and question why they were at the building when the explosion happened. Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz has promised a transparent investigation as authorities work to establish what caused the blast and whether proper safety protocols were followed.

Al Jazeera's Ferdia Carr reports.

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