Death toll from bus bombing in southwest Colombia rises to 20 during a wave of violence

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The number of people killed in a bombing in a volatile region in southwest Colombia rose to 20, officials said Sunday.

The attack happened Saturday when an explosive device was detonated on a bus traveling along the Pan-American Highway in the municipality of Cajibio. So far, 15 women and five men are among the victims, according to Octavio Guzmán, governor of the region of Cauca.

He wrote on X that the attack injured 36 others, three of whom are in intensive care. Guzmán noted that five of the injured are minors who are expected to recover.

Colombia’s Institute of Legal Medicine said that specialists including dentists, anthropologists and forensic doctors are identifying the victims.

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 Martínez faction. Both are dissidents of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia that operate in the region.

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.

A man looks at vehicles damaged in an attack on the Pan-American Highway that killed at least a dozen people and authorities blamed on dissident groups of the former FARC rebels in Cajibio, Colombia, Sunday, April 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

Travelers walk past vehicles damaged in an attack on the Pan-American Highway in Cajibio, Colombia, Sunday, April 26, 2026, where at least a dozen people were killed in an attack authorities blamed on dissident groups of the former FARC rebels. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

A man walks past vehicles damaged in an attack on the Pan-American Highway in Cajibio, Colombia, Sunday, April 26, 2026, where at least a dozen people were killed in an attack authorities blamed on dissident groups of the former FARC rebels. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

People stand at the site of an attack on the Pan-American Highway in Cajibio, Colombia, Sunday, April 26, 2026, where at least a dozen people were killed in an attack authorities blamed on dissident groups of the former FARC rebels. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

Relatives of victims pay respects at the site of an attack on the Pan-American Highway in Cajibio, Colombia, Sunday, April 26, 2026, where at least a dozen people were killed in an attack authorities blamed on dissident groups of the former FARC rebels. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

NEW YORK (AP) — Colorado avoided falling behind when the robot umpire changed Brett Baty's bases-loaded walk to an inning-ending called third strike in the first, and Jose Quintana got his first win of the season as the Rockies sent the New York Mets to their 14th loss in 16 games, 3-1 in a doubleheader opener Sunday.

Troy Johnston hit an RBI single in the fourth and broke a 1-1 tie with a run-scoring, double-play grounder in the sixth. Jake McCarthy added an RBI single in the seventh for Colorado (12-16), which clinched its third series win this year. Last season, the Rockies (43-119) didn't win their third series until July 18-20.

Players won four of seven challenges to the robot umpire on ball-strike calls by plate umpire Ryan Blakney.

Blakney was challenged four times in the first inning, with three called overturned — including a called strike to Bo Bichette that became a ball on Quintana’s first pitch. The inning ended when Baty started heading to first when Blakney called ball four on a bases-loaded, full-count sinker on the outside corner only to have the ABS system change it to a called third strike — the first of three against Baty.

Quintana (1-2) allowed two hits in a season-high 5 1/3 innings. Jaden Hill escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth by retiring Luis Robert Jr. on a foul pop and striking out Mark Vientos, and Victor Vodnik got three straight outs for his fourth save, finishing a four-hitter.

Nolan McLean (1-2) gave up two runs — one earned — and five hits in five innings for the Mets (9-18).

With Francisco Lindor on the injured list, Bichette made his first start at shortstop this year.

Tyrone Taylor tied the score in the fifth with his second homer of the season, matching his 2025 total, a drive to left into a 15 mph wind.

Francisco Alvarez had been 0 for 28 in his big league career as a pinch hitter before his eighth-inning single.

Mets RHP Kodai Senga (0-3, 8.83) was to start the second game on eight days’ rest. Colorado started Chase Dollander.

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New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza returns to the dugout after a pitching change during the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets Francisco Lindor walks in the dugout wearing a protective boot during the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Colorado Rockies' Brett Sullivan (26), right, slides safely home while New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens waits for the ball during the seventh inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos reacts after striking out to end the sixth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Colorado Rockies' Jake McCarthy looks after an RBI single during the seventh inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)