Death Toll Rises After Bomb Attack in Colombia; Victim Identification Underway
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
BOGOTÁ, Colombia — The death toll from a bomb attack on a highway in southwestern Colombia has risen to 20, with 36 injured, authorities in the Cauca department reported Sunday. The region has been under siege from violent attacks in recent days, which the government has attributed to dissident factions of the now-defunct FARC. Governor Octavio Guzmán of Cauca stated on X that the victims include 15 women and five men, all adults. Among the injured, three remain in intensive care, while five minors are reported to be 'out of danger.' The National Institute of Forensic Medicine has begun identifying the bodies to return them to their families. The attack occurred Saturday when an explosive device detonated as a bus traveled along the Pan-American Highway near El Túnel in Cajibío, Cauca. The Cauca and neighboring Valle del Cauca regions have faced escalating violence in recent days. The Cauca government declared three days of mourning for the victims. Witness Miyer Reinoso described the tragedy to The Associated Press, saying, 'They were very innocent people—children, families who had just finished work and were carrying their groceries.' The explosion left a 200-cubic-meter crater on the road and destroyed over a dozen vehicles. The highway concessionaire restored traffic on the Pan-American Highway by midday Sunday. This region is a key area for illicit economies controlled by armed groups vying for dominance over coca cultivation zones and drug trafficking routes to Central America and Europe. Colombian security authorities reported 26 'criminal' attacks in the area in recent days, attributing them to the Jaime Martínez faction of FARC dissidents. President Gustavo Petro condemned the perpetrators as 'terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers,' led by alias 'Marlon,' a close associate of alias 'Iván Mordisco,' one of Colombia's most-wanted individuals. Vice President Francia Márquez called on the military to stop the 'terrorist wave' and criticized intelligence agencies for failing to prevent the attack. The government has offered a reward of 5 billion pesos (over $1 million USD) for information leading to the capture of 'Marlon,' whose real name is Iván Jacob Idrobo Arredondo. Violence escalated Friday when two explosive-laden vehicles detonated near military units in Cali and Palmira, causing property damage. On Saturday, multiple shootings and radar system damage were reported across the departments, though no injuries occurred. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the attacks on civilians and urged authorities to investigate and ensure justice for the victims. The Andean Community of Nations also joined in the condemnation. Colombia’s Peace Commissioner called on illegal armed groups to 'immediately cease' violent actions against civilians, stating that no cause justifies the 'suffering and violation of fundamental rights.' The government was urged to increase protection and presence in affected territories to ensure peace. Talks between the government and FARC dissidents were suspended in 2024 after an armed attack in Cauca killed an Indigenous leader. Opposition sectors have criticized Petro’s 'total peace' policy, claiming it has failed to curb violence and fosters impunity. Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president, will end his term in August, with presidential elections scheduled for May 31.