Three Civilians Killed in Cauca: Armed Group Violence Triggers Urgent Evacuations in Rural District

Popayán, Colombia—Three civilians were killed Thursday afternoon in rural Cauca when heavy fighting broke out between competing illegal armed groups near the village of El Plateado. The victims were caught in the open when automatic weapons fire erupted across the central market square.

Local authorities reported that combat began without warning around 2:00 p.m. nearby a agricultural distribution point. Farmers and local merchants fled into nearby structures as heavy rounds struck storefronts and unpaved roadways.

Human rights monitors in the region confirmed the civilian casualties after contacting rural health clinics. "The civilian population remains entirely trapped between contending armed factions," said a regional human rights officer in Popayán. "Families could not leave their homes for hours due to constant firing."

Military forces stationed in neighboring municipalities dispatched ground troops and reconnaissance aircraft to secure the perimeter. Heavy terrain and poor weather conditions delayed the arrival of government forces until late Thursday evening.

Cauca has experienced an intense surge in armed activity over recent months as rival factions compete over strategic transport corridors. Local community leaders reported that several families fled their farms to seek refuge in neighboring municipal centers.

The regional ombudsman’s office called for an immediate cessation of hostilities near civilian populated areas. Medical personnel faced significant difficulties entering the sector to retrieve the bodies due to ongoing security threats along rural access roads.

Government representatives in Popayán convened an emergency security council meeting to evaluate troop deployments across the department. Local officials demanded permanent military posts along major agricultural transit routes to protect rural workers.

The bodies of the three victims were eventually transported to the municipal morgue in Argelia for formal identification. Security operations in rural Cauca remain active as army units conduct sweeps throughout the surrounding valleys.