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The death toll from a recent bombing in a tumultuous area of southwest Colombia has climbed to 20, local officials confirmed on Sunday.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday when an explosive device detonated aboard a bus traveling the Pan-American Highway in Cajibio municipality. Among the deceased are 15 women and five men, detailed Octavio Guzmán, the governor of Cauca.
Families of the victims gathered on Sunday to honor their loved ones at the scene of the attack on the Pan-American Highway in Cajibio. The explosion not only claimed 20 lives but also left 36 others injured, according to officials.
Governor Guzmán took to X, stating that among the injured, three individuals remain in critical condition in intensive care. He also mentioned that five minors were hurt, but they are expected to recover.
The identification process of the victims is underway, with Colombia’s Institute of Legal Medicine deploying a team of specialists, including dentists, anthropologists, and forensic experts, to handle the task.
People observe the aftermath of the attack in Cajibio, Colombia, Sunday, April 26, 2026. Colombian officials blamed dissident FARC factions for the bus bombing that killed 20 people in the volatile Cauca region. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)
The bombing is the latest attack in the region, with more than two dozen incidents reported in the past three days in southwestern Colombia. The region is home to illegal armed groups who vie for control of coca leaf cultivation areas and for sea and river access routes to run drug trafficking operations to Central America and Europe.
Gen. Hugo López, commander of Colombia’s armed forces, has described the incident as a “terrorist act.” He blamed it on the network of a man known as “Iván Mordisco” — one of Colombia’s most wanted figures — and the Jaime MartÃnez faction. Both are dissidents of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia that operate in the region.
A man looks at vehicles damaged in the bombing in Cajibio, Colombia, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the attacks against the civilian population and called on authorities to investigate the incidents and “guarantee justice for the victims.”
Guzmán declared three days of mourning on Sunday in memory of the victims.