Authorities in the Cauca region have called for ‘decisive’ government action after a deadly explosion on the Pan-American Highway.
Published on 25 April 2026
At least seven people have been killed and 20 injured after a suspected explosive attack in Colombia’s southwestern province of Cauca, according to regional authorities.
Governor Octavio Guzman said an explosive was detonated on Saturday on the Pan-American Highway in the El Tunnels sector of Cajibío. He condemned it as an “indiscriminate attack” against the civilian population.
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Guzmán demanded a “decisive, sustained” response from the government against the “terrorist surge” in a social media post, saying, “There are not enough words for the pain we are feeling.”
A video shared by the governor shows the aftermath of the bombing, showing ambulances at the scene and damaged vehicles and debris on the road.
“Caca cannot continue to face this barbarity alone,” he said, adding that other actions were also taken in El Tambo, Caloto, Popayán, Guachen, Mercadores and Miranda.
The deadly incident follows a series of attacks on Friday attributed to criminal groups formed by dissident members of the FARC rebel group who broke away from the group following a landmark peace deal with the government in 2016.
On Saturday, Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez was convening a security council in Cali to assess the regional security situation when the latest attack occurred.
President Gustavo Petro reacted to the deadly explosion, saying powerful criminal groups wanted to control the population through fear.
While details of the attack are still emerging, Petro appears to have blamed the drug trafficker and FARC dissident leader known as Iván Mordisco.
“I want maximum action worldwide against this narco-terrorist group,” Petro said.
