Explosive device kills 13 and injures 38 on bus in Colombia

At least 26 such incidents have taken place in the last two days, amid a wave of violence linked to drug-trafficking

An explosive device killed 13 people travelling on a bus in southwestern Colombia on Saturday, an attack the country’s army chief described as a “terrorist act” that also left at least 38 injured as violence linked to drug trafficking in the region escalates.

Octavio Guzman, the governor of the region of Cauca, said on social media that the device was set off while the bus was travelling along the Panamerican Highway in the municipality of Cajibio.

Five children were among the injured, Cauca Health Secretary Carolina Camargo told Noticias Caracol, a television news programme.

General Hugo Lopez, commander of Colombia’s Armed Forces, told a news conference that it was a “terrorist act” and blamed the network of a man known as “Ivan Mordisco” – one of Colombia’s most wanted figures – and the Jaime Martinez faction. Both are dissidents of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia that operate in the region.

Neither Ivan Mordisco nor the Jaime Martinez faction abide by the peace agreement signed with the state in 2016.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack on social media.