Explosives Attack Destroys Toll Booth Under Construction in Cauca

An explosives attack destroyed a toll booth under construction in the Mondomo sector of Santander de Quilichao, Cauca, during the early hours of Saturday, August 8, 2026. The structure, located on the Panamericana road between Popayán and Cali, was in its final phase of construction when unidentified individuals detonated charges around 2:00 a.m. The blast caused total destruction of the toll booth and damage to the road infrastructure, leading the National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) to implement a total closure of both lanes for technical inspections. No casualties were reported.

Cauca Governor Octavio Guzmán stated that the attack is not an isolated incident and is part of a series of events affecting the Panamericana corridor. He called for a coordinated strategy between the national government and security forces to ensure the safety of the route. Other security incidents were reported on August 7, including the discovery of a cylinder between Villa Rica and Jamundí, and eight attacks against security forces across several departments including Cauca, Antioquia, Norte de Santander, Tolima, Huila, and Cesar.

The timing of the attack coincided with the inauguration of President Abelardo de la Espriella, which took place in Cali on August 7. Some reports noted that this is the first known attack since the start of the new administration. While center right sources highlighted the attack as a challenge to the new president's stated goal of combating narcoguerrillas, center left coverage contextualized the event within a broader series of security breaches occurring during the inauguration period.