Deadly Bomb Attack in Colombia Leaves Fourteen Dead

(MENAFN) The death toll from a bomb attack in southwestern Colombia has risen to 14, with 38 others wounded, according to authorities on Saturday.

The blast occurred in the Cauca region along the Pan-American highway near Cajibío, where an explosive device was reportedly placed inside a drainage structure and detonated as traffic was passing through the area.

Officials said the timing of the explosion during peak traffic significantly increased both casualties and damage. Emergency and security forces were deployed immediately after the incident.

A rural bus known locally as a “chiva” was destroyed in the explosion, while several other vehicles were also heavily damaged. The force of the blast left a large crater on the roadway, and reports indicated that another explosive may have been thrown onto a bus before detonation, worsening the impact.

Gustavo Petro attributed responsibility for the attack to Iván Mordisco, accusing him of directing violence through an armed faction. In public statements, he described the perpetrators as criminals linked to drug trafficking and ordered intensified military operations against the group, along with international tracking efforts.

In a separate development, two additional injuries were reported in a bus explosion near a military installation in Cali, further heightening security concerns in the region.

Local officials in Cauca described the incident as a devastating tragedy, confirming that children were among the victims and noting the deep impact on the surrounding communities.

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