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Exterior de un batallón militar andino al amanecer con ambulancia a distancia y cordón de seguridad
Imagen alusiva al Batallón San Mateo de Pereira tras la explosión registrada durante un entrenamiento. · Imagen generada para EPM

Explosion at Pereira battalion injures 4 soldiers during training drill

An explosion during preparations for a salute with blank ammunition at the San Mateo Battalion in Pereira injured 4 soldiers on November 4, 2026.

--- The context --- In Pereira, inside the San Mateo Battalion, a training activity was interrupted by an unexpected detonation. Preparations for a salute using blank ammunition turned into an emergency with soldiers injured and an immediate transfer to hospital. --- The facts --- The explosion occurred on November 4, 2026, during preparations for the salute. After the detonation, ambulances took the 4 injured soldiers to Hospital Universitario San Jorge de Pereira, where they remain under medical care with a reserved prognosis, according to the information gathered. The soldiers were identified as Andrés Camilo Melgar Hurtado, aged 28; Yeison Salazar Valencia, aged 20; José Angelo Jaramillo Niaza, aged 19; and Luis Felipe Marín Viveros, also aged 19. They suffered injuries to their hands, face and limbs, as well as effects caused by the blast wave. --- The positions --- The Military Criminal Justice system took over the case to establish the circumstances of the detonation, determine whether there were failures in handling the material and establish possible responsibilities in its management during training. --- What remains unknown --- There is still no confirmed cause of the detonation. The detailed health condition of each soldier is also unknown beyond the reserved prognosis, and the available information offers no settled explanation of how the blast occurred. --- Unanswered questions --- What exactly caused the detonation during preparations for the salute? Were there failures in handling the material used in the training? How is the health of each soldier being treated at the hospital evolving in the coming hours and days? --- EPM analysis --- The episode focuses attention on safety during training with blank ammunition. A practice procedure ending with 4 injured soldiers requires a review of protocols, supervision and material handling, without advancing conclusions without evidence. 📌 EPM Take: In EPM's view, the priority now is the recovery of the 4 soldiers and a rigorous investigation that clarifies every step before the detonation. Blank ammunition is used in training and still caused serious injuries, so reviewing protocols, supervision and material handling is essential. Without confirmed causes, any early conclusion would be irresponsible toward the injured soldiers and their families.
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