Truck Bomb in Planadas, Colombia, Kills Four Including Two-Month-Old Baby

A truck loaded with explosives detonated near a military base in the town of Planadas, Tolima department, on the night of 1 November. Tolima Governor Adriana Magali Matiz reported a preliminary toll of four dead, including a two-month-old baby girl. Multiple people were wounded. Homes in the Aeropuerto neighborhood and part of a hospital were damaged. Mayor Juan Camilo Hueje said injured people were taken to a local school for treatment. A curfew was declared.

Initial accounts indicate drones carrying explosive devices were also seen over the urban area before the truck detonated. Streets were left covered in rubble. Video from the scene showed a woman screaming as a man pulled a small body from the debris. Matiz called the attack inadmissible and demanded justice and decisive action. No group has claimed responsibility. Southern Tolima has a presence of FARC dissidents, including the Ismael Ruiz Front.

The blast occurred in a residential zone close to the base. The governor said attacking civilians and risking soldiers and families crossed a line that would not be tolerated. Authorities continue to investigate. Colombia has faced its worst wave of violence in a decade, with armed groups active in several regions.

Local Impact

Planadas lies in the south of the Andean department of Tolima. The explosion damaged infrastructure beyond the immediate blast site. Residents reported concern over the scale of destruction in the neighborhood. The hospital was partially affected, complicating immediate medical response. The mayor ordered the evacuation of the hospital center given the damage.

Footage circulating after the attack showed burning structures and people moving through debris at night. One clip captured emergency response amid the rubble. Officials have not released a full list of the dead beyond confirming the infant among the four. Several wounded remain under treatment.

Broader Pattern

Armed groups in Colombia have increasingly used drones and vehicle-borne explosives. The combination of both methods in Planadas fits that pattern. The attack comes amid ongoing operations against residual guerrilla factions and criminal organizations that contest territory in rural and semi-urban areas. The government has pledged stronger measures, but specific attribution for this incident remains open.

Matiz's public statement stressed solidarity with the families and the need to stop such acts. Local leaders have called for reinforced security. The preliminary nature of the casualty count means the final number could change as searches continue. For now, four deaths, including the two-month-old, stand as the confirmed toll, with significant material damage to civilian and medical facilities in the town.

Response

National authorities have not yet named suspects. The presence of FARC dissidents in the area makes them one line of inquiry, though no confirmation has been issued. The curfew remains in place while investigators work the site. Residents have been advised to stay clear of the damaged zone. The incident adds to a series of attacks that have strained security resources in the department and raised questions about the reach of armed groups into populated areas near military installations.