The death toll from a bomb explosion on a highway in Cauca, southwestern Colombia, on Saturday has risen to 20, with another 38 people wounded.

In a post on X on Sunday, Cauca Governor Octavio Guzmán described the incident as the “most brutal and ruthless attack against the civilian population in decades in the Cauca department”.

He added, “But in the face of terrorism, we respond with greater institutional presence and comprehensive work.”

Condemning the attack, Mr Guzmán said, “At this time, the report records 20 civilian deaths, 15 women and 5 men, all adults; 36 people injured, of whom 3 remain in the ICU, and 5 minors who are out of danger.”

General Hugo López, commander of Colombia’s Armed Forces, said in a press conference on Sunday that the highway bombing in Cauca was a “terrorist act”, accusing Ivan Mordisco, a wanted guerrilla group commander, of the attack.

President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack, calling its perpetrators “terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers”.

Saturday’s incident comes amid waves of attacks targeting public infrastructure and civilians by armed groups. 

In the last two days, about 26 violent attacks were recorded in southwestern Colombia, including a shooting at a police station in Jamundi. 

While a Civil Aviation radar facility in El Tambo was also attacked, two vehicles loaded with explosives were detonated near military units in Cali and Palmira on Friday.