The main transport route connecting Colombia’s second largest city, Medellin, with the nation’s Atlantic coast region has been closed since midnight Wednesday due to an infrastructure attack.
Armed men allegedly from Colombia’s largest rebel group, the FARC, set fire to a freight truck near the municipality of Yarumal, leaving a section of the main highway between Medellin and Cartagena impassable, according to Colombia’s Caracol Radio.
“We have closed the highway while a group of anti-explosive experts from the National Army locate possible undetonated explosives,” said Antioquia police commander Gustavo Romero.
Adding to the chaos were heavy rains and an ensuing landslide a mere 35 miles north on the same highway, near the town of Puerto Valdivia, reported RCN Radio.
Earlier Wednesday morning, traffic was reportedly backed up six miles, and local officials had yet to arrive on the scene and assist in clearing the road.
Sources
- Cerrada vía Medellín-Costa Atlántica por ataque de las Farc al transporte (Caracol Radio)
- Cerrada en dos puntos la vía que comunica a Medellín con la Costa Caribe (RCN Radio)
