An explosive device kills 13 and injures 38 on a bus in southwestern Colombia as violence persists

Main Idea: An explosive device killed dozens of bus passengers in southwestern Colombia, prompting Governor Octavio Guzmán and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez to call for a stronger response as violence tied to drug trafficking worsens.

Key Points:

• The blast hit a bus on the Panamerican Highway in Cajibío, in the Cauca region, killing many people and injuring dozens more.
• Officials said children were among the injured, and forensic teams were working to identify the victims.
• Authorities blamed armed dissident groups linked to drug trafficking for the attack and said the violence was a “terrorist” act.
• The explosion came amid a wider wave of attacks on public targets in southwestern Colombia, leading to calls for more security forces and intelligence work.