Explosive Attack Destroys Mondomo Toll Plaza on Pan-American Highway

An explosive attack has destroyed the infrastructure of the Mondomo toll plaza, a project nearing completion on the Pan-American Highway connecting Popayán and Cali, Colombia. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 8, causing alarm in the rural communities of the Cauca department.

Local residents reported that several individuals arrived at the construction site around 2 a.m. and detonated explosive devices. The targeted structure was the Cachimbal toll booth, part of the Nuevo Cauca concession project. This vital stretch of highway is located at kilometer 60 of the dual carriageway linking Popayán and Santander de Quilichao, a critical corridor for mobility between the Cauca and Valle del Cauca departments.

Initial investigations suggest that dissident FARC factions operating in the region may be responsible for the attack. The severe material damage to the newly built structure underscores persistent security challenges along this key transportation route. The incident has once again brought attention to the volatile conditions affecting the highway that links Popayán and Cali.