A cylinder bomb detonated against a passenger bus killed at least 19 people on Saturday on Panamericana road, in the municipality of Cajibío, in the department of Cauca, in Colômbia. The attack left around 48 people injured, most of them civilians. The explosion occurred in the sector known as El Túnel, one of the main routes connecting the cities of Popayán and Cali. Rescue Equipes worked for hours to remove bodies and assist survivors on the road, which was closed indefinitely.
Governor Octavio Guzmán reported the gradual increase in casualties over the first few hours after the incident. Testemunhas reported a strong detonation followed by widespread destruction on the runway. The device hit several vehicles circulating in the region, affecting not only the public service bus but also private cars due to the resulting shock wave.
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Dissidência of Farc identified as responsible for the attack
President Gustavo Petro attributed the attack to the Jaime Martínez column, linked to the dissent of the Farc led by the alias Iván Mordisco. In a message published on social media, Petro demanded intensive persecution of the group and classified the perpetrators as narco-terrorists. The president asked for the best soldiers to be sent to the area of operations in Cauca.
Governor Guzmán decreed three days of mourning in the department, describing the episode as a tragedy that affects the entire local population. Autoridades confirmed that all victims were civilians, including at least five children among the injured. The region records a strong presence of dissident armed groups that did not adhere to the 2017 peace agreements.
Impacto politician in presidential election year
- Ataque takes place just over a month before the presidential elections scheduled for May 31, 2026.
- The Colombian Constituição does not allow re-election of the acting president.
- Vários candidates have already publicly condemned the incident and expressed solidarity with the families of the victims.
- The debate on security should gain strength in the coming days of the election campaign.
- The attack is considered the most serious recorded in the current electoral season.
The incident is part of a sequence of violent actions recorded over the weekend in the southwestern region of Colombia. The total peace strategy promoted by the Petro government includes negotiations with armed factions, resulting in intermittent ceasefires. However, Farc dissidents maintain active operations in the country, with involvement in drug trafficking identified as the main source of financing for these organizations.
Security Operação mobilizes forces in the region
Exército and Polícia began offensive actions in the region immediately after the attack. The Panamericana road was closed for forensic examination and the removal of debris from the affected vehicles. Hospitais in the area went on high alert to receive and care for the injured sent by rescue teams.
Equipes investigation seeks to identify those directly responsible for the action. The use of cylinder bombs is a recurring tactic in conflicts in the Cauca zone of operations. Autoridades works to restore normal traffic on the Panamericana route as quickly as possible, considering the strategic importance of the route for regional trade.
Contexto of persistent violence in Cauca’s department
The department has accumulated episodes of violence in recent years, with residents living daily with risks on roads and rural areas. The presence of dissident groups creates constant challenges for public authorities and the civilian population. The attack reinforces the need for discussions on security strategies and the fight against narco-terrorism in the region, topics that are expected to dominate the political debate in the coming months before the presidential election.