Tragedy Strikes Graduation Ceremony... Roof Collapses Due to Hail, 7 Dead

7 Dead, 17 Injured in Bolivia... 10 Seriously Hurt
Bereaved Families Raise Suspicions of 'Poor Construction' in 2013 Building

The roof collapse accident site at a Bolivian school graduation ceremony. Photo by the official Twitter of the Achacachi Provincial Government · Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] A tragedy occurred at a graduation ceremony that should have been filled with only joy. In South America, Bolivia, the roof of the graduation hall collapsed under the weight of hail during a school graduation ceremony, resulting in 7 deaths and over 10 injuries.

According to the Bolivian daily newspaper El Deber on the 12th (local time), on the afternoon of the 10th, heavy rain accompanied by hail fell in Santiago de Pacharia, Achacachi city, La Paz province, a mountain village in Bolivia. At that time, a graduation ceremony for Gualberto Villarroel School was being held in a warehouse in this village. The roof of the venue collapsed under the weight of accumulated hailstones, burying the crowd. The sudden collapse caused 7 deaths. Among the deceased, 2 were workers who were working for the event and were found several hours later after being trapped under the debris.

Seventeen people were injured and transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment. Among them, the government authorities stated that 10 are in serious condition. The Achacachi mayor's office posted on Twitter, offering condolences to the deceased and saying, "We extend our deepest sympathies and solidarity to the bereaved families."

The bereaved families are raising suspicions of poor construction of the warehouse and demanding punishment for those responsible. Government authorities stated, "It has been confirmed that the warehouse was built in 2013 with special project funding," and that an investigation into the entire construction process is underway.

The Bolivian highlands generally experience drought, but sometimes a large amount of rain falls in a short period. In cases like this, hail often accompanies the rain.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.