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Attack leaves 14 dead on Colombian highway
A bomb explosion on a road in Colombia's southern Cauca region has killed at least 14 people and injured dozens, including children, authorities confirmed on Sunday. The blast targeted vehicles traveling along the highway, scattering debris across the scene.
Guerrilla groups blamed for violence
President Gustavo Petro attributed the attack to dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), which rejected the 2016 peace accord and remained armed. Petro condemned the perpetrators as "terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers" in a post on X, calling for military action against them.
Witnesses describe devastating blast
Videos shared online showed overturned vehicles and deep craters along the highway. Local Governor Octavio Guzmán labeled the bombing "indiscriminate," stating that Cauca could no longer endure such violence alone. Witnesses told AFP the explosion was powerful enough to knock people off their feet.
"Cauca cannot continue to face this barbarity alone."
Octavio Guzmán, Cauca Governor
Recent surge in attacks ahead of elections
Guzmán reported additional smaller attacks in Cauca since Friday, including an assault on a military base in Cali that injured two soldiers. Defense Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez revealed that a bus packed with explosives failed to detonate earlier in the day, blaming a drug-trafficking cartel for the attempted strike.
Peace efforts falter as elections loom
The violence occurs just one month before Colombia's presidential election on May 31. Petro, a former guerrilla fighter, has pursued peace negotiations with armed groups, but dissident Farc factions-many involved in drug trafficking-have resisted disarmament. His term ends later this year.
Left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda, endorsed by Petro, advocates for continued dialogue with rebels. In contrast, right-wing opponents Paloma Valencia and Abelardo De la Espriella have pledged a crackdown on insurgents if elected.
