Guerillas belonging to the National Liberation Army (ELN) dynamited an oil pipeline, which caused a spreading fire to the village.

On October 18, 1998, members of the Cimarrones subgroup of the ELN bombed a section of the Ocensa pipeline in Antioquia Department.

[3] On November 12, Nicolas Rodriguez, head of the ELN, said that the attack was a "grave mistake" and that they would investigate those responsible.

[4] The bombing hurt the credibility of the ELN, especially as it entered peace negotiations with the government just a week prior to the attack.

The Guardian reported that BP provided arms equipment to the Colombian army brigade guarding the pipeline, a claim it denied.