Bojayá facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bojayá
Municipality
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  "Creatividad, Trabajo y Decisión"
The municipality of Bojayá within the Chocó Department of Colombia. Its municipal centre, Bellavista Nuevo, is midway along its eastern edge.
Country	Colombia
Department	Chocó Department
Area
• Municipality	3,693 km2 (1,426 sq mi)
Population  (2005)
• Municipality	9,941
• Urban	4,572
	Estimation by DANE - Government of Colombia
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)

Bojayá is a municipality located in the Chocó Department of Colombia. Its main town, or municipal centre, is called Bellavista Nuevo.

Life in Bojayá Today

In 2005, a study showed that Bojayá had about 9,941 people living there. Most of the people, about 58.4%, are Afro-Colombian. Another 41.4% are Embera, who are an indigenous group.

A large part of the area, including some of the Utría National Natural Park, is within the municipality. This park is a beautiful place with lots of nature.

The Bojayá Massacre

Bojayá is known for a very sad event that happened on May 2, 2002. This event is called the Bojayá massacre. During this time, a group called FARC attacked another group in the town of Bellavista.

Many people were hiding inside the town's church for safety. During the fighting, a bomb fired by FARC hit the church roof by mistake. The bomb exploded inside, killing 79 people who were seeking shelter. In total, 119 civilians died, including 49 children. Many others were injured, and the town was badly damaged.

After this terrible event, most of the people who lived in Bellavista had to leave their homes. The original town became known as Bellavista Viejo (Old Bellavista).

Building Bellavista Nuevo

Five days after the massacre, the president of Colombia, Andrés Pastrana, announced a plan to build a new town. This new town would be a safe place for the people of Bellavista to live. Many residents wanted to move, but not everyone agreed.

Students from Universidad Javeriana helped design the new town. They chose a spot about 800 metres away from the old town. This new location was safer because it was less likely to flood.

Construction started in 2003. The new town was built with concrete buildings, including 265 houses. These homes had modern services like water and electricity. In 2007, the new town officially opened and was named Bellavista Nuevo (New Bellavista).

Today, about half of the people who live in the Bojayá region live in Bellavista Nuevo. The remains of the people who died in the massacre are buried here. A special building, called a mausoleum, was also built to remember them.

Remembering Bellavista Viejo

The old town, Bellavista Viejo, is now empty. However, the church that was damaged in the bombing, San Pablo Apóstol, has been repaired. It is kept as a memorial to the tragic event.

Every year on May 2nd, a special service is held at the church in Bellavista Viejo. During this service, a statue called el Christo Mutilado de Bojaya is brought from the new church in Bellavista Nuevo. This statue was damaged during the massacre and is a powerful symbol of what happened. It is carried in a procession by river, connecting the old and new towns.

Climate in Bojayá

Bojayá has a very wet tropical rainforest climate. This means it is hot and rainy almost all year round.

Images for kids

• 

  Casa de las Hermanas Agustinas, where about 100 people took refuge during the massacre in 2002.

• 

  The current inside of the Bellavista Viejo church, where the Bojayá Massacre happened in 2002.

• 

  Bellavista Viejo, now abandoned. On the left is part of the old school, and in the centre is the restored church.

See also

In Spanish: Bojayá para niños