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Rescue workers on Thursday pulled a 43-year-old security guard alive from the basement of a collapsed shopping centre in Venezuela, eight days after powerful twin earthquakes devastated parts of the country. Hernán Alberto Gil Flores had been trapped beneath the rubble of the Galerías Playa Grande shopping centre in the coastal state of La Guaira since the earthquakes struck on June 24. Rescue teams first established contact with him several days after the disaster. Gil Flores was carried from the wreckage on a stretcher wearing an oxygen mask before being taken by ambulance to receive medical treatment, as rescuers from several countries celebrated the successful operation. The dramatic rescue offered a rare moment of hope after the twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, killed more than 2,200 people, injured over 11,000 and caused widespread destruction across northern Venezuela. According to rescuers, Gil Flores survived because he was inside a small security booth in the building's basement when the earthquakes struck. Although the surrounding structure collapsed, the booth remained largely intact, creating an air pocket that protected him from the falling debris. International rescue teams managed to keep him alive by supplying water and liquid nutrients through a narrow opening while carefully removing concrete and debris from the unstable structure. Minyar Collado of the Costa Rican Red Cross said Gil Flores initially asked rescuers not to inform his wife that he had been found alive until they were certain they could save him. His wife, Gusbimar González, said learning that rescuers had made contact with her husband after days of uncertainty renewed her hope. The couple have two children. The rescue operation was led by Chilean urban search and rescue firefighters, with assistance from teams from the United States, Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Venezuela. Crews worked around the clock despite aftershocks, heavy rain and the risk of further collapse. Rescuers also used a telescopic camera to maintain contact with Gil Flores throughout the operation, while Chilean firefighter María Paz Campos provided reassurance and instructions during the final stages of the rescue. La Guaira was among the areas worst affected by the devastating earthquakes, which destroyed or damaged tens of thousands of buildings across northern Venezuela.

Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes have killed at least 1,943 people and injured more than 10,500, while thousands remain missing, according to official figures, as survivors increasingly accuse the government of a slow and poorly coordinated rescue effort. More than a week after the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on June 24, families continue searching for loved ones trapped beneath collapsed buildings in La Guaira state, Caracas and surrounding areas, with many saying civilian volunteers and foreign rescue teams have carried out much of the search and recovery work. Among them is Angelica Mundrain, who has spent six days waiting outside the ruins of her beachfront apartment building in La Guaira, hoping heavy machinery will arrive to recover the bodies of her son, niece and nephew buried beneath concrete and twisted steel. "We've been abandoned," Mundrain said, describing what she called a lack of organization, compassion and urgency in the government's response. The disaster has exposed significant weaknesses in Venezuela's emergency response system under acting President Delcy Rodriguez, with residents saying the first 72 hours after the earthquakes were marked by confusion and inadequate coordination. According to survivors, police and security forces were largely deployed to manage traffic while local residents, often assisted by foreign rescue teams equipped with thermal cameras, sound detection devices and trained search dogs, searched through the rubble. Ambulances reportedly faced long traffic delays, and hospitals struggled with shortages of personnel and medical supplies. David Smilde, a Venezuela expert at Tulane University, said the government's response reflects longstanding institutional problems, including the loss of experienced public-sector workers due to low wages and corruption. He said an effective disaster response requires trained personnel, established emergency protocols and clearly defined responsibilities. Residents also alleged that access to rescue equipment depended in some cases on wealth or political connections. Survivors said specialized machinery, including telescopic cranes, was deployed more quickly to buildings where military officers or politically connected individuals were believed to live, while other sites continued waiting for assistance. Public frustration has occasionally led to confrontations with equipment operators. At one collapsed public housing complex, residents reportedly blocked an excavator from leaving the site, insisting rescue operations continue. Rescue crews continued searching for survivors on Tuesday despite diminishing hopes of finding more people alive. Emergency experts say the first 48 to 72 hours after a major earthquake are generally the most critical for saving lives, although survival can be extended if trapped victims have access to food and water. Electrician Daniel Castillo, who rescued his mother and son from a collapsed public housing building shortly after the earthquakes, said his brother's body was recovered a day later. While collecting emergency hygiene supplies from a military distribution point, Castillo criticized the authorities' response, saying ordinary citizens and foreign rescue workers had shouldered much of the rescue effort while many security personnel remained largely uninvolved. He contrasted the dust-covered volunteers searching through debris with members of the National Guard whose uniforms, he said, remained spotless throughout the operation.

Rescue teams and volunteers continued searching through the rubble of collapsed buildings in Venezuela on Monday as hopes of finding more survivors from last week's devastating twin earthquakes diminished and concerns mounted over a prolonged humanitarian crisis. Five days after the disaster, relief agencies warned that the critical window for rescuing survivors was rapidly closing, although people trapped beneath the debris could still survive if they had access to food and water. The earthquakes have left thousands homeless, raising questions over whether the cash-strapped government can effectively coordinate long-term relief and recovery efforts. The official death toll has surpassed 1,700, according to government figures. Meanwhile, a magnitude 4.6 aftershock struck the northern state of La Guaira on Monday, adding to the anxiety of residents and rescue workers. Authorities said there were no immediate reports of additional damage. Government officials, facing criticism over the pace of the response, highlighted ongoing rescue and relief efforts. Police and military personnel distributed food to displaced residents, while authorities said electricity had been restored to 90 percent of La Guaira, one of the worst-hit regions. Jorge Rodríguez, head of the National Assembly, said engineers were assessing structurally damaged buildings and that 15 temporary camps had been established to shelter displaced families. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez also praised emergency responders after rescue workers pulled a survivor from the rubble following a 43-hour operation, describing every successful rescue as "a victory for hope." Despite occasional rescue successes, many families remained waiting near collapsed buildings for news of missing relatives. Residents were again shaken after Monday's aftershock, one of more than 600 recorded since the twin earthquakes struck last Wednesday. The tremor was felt in Caracas, where many people rushed out of buildings in fear. Rescue and recovery operations are continuing as authorities and humanitarian agencies race against time to assist survivors and address the growing needs of those displaced by one of the country's deadliest natural disasters.

Rescuers in northern Venezuela continued searching through collapsed buildings on Monday for survivors of last week's twin earthquakes as a 4.6-magnitude aftershock struck the disaster-hit state of La Guaira, adding to fears in the devastated region. With five days having passed since the powerful earthquakes, hopes of finding more survivors are fading. Relief agencies say the first 72 hours after a natural disaster are the most critical for rescue efforts, although survival is possible for longer if victims have access to food and water. The official death toll has risen to more than 1,700. Attention is now increasingly focused on the growing humanitarian crisis and whether the cash-strapped government led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez can effectively support thousands of people left homeless. Rodríguez took office in January after the Trump administration removed former President Nicolás Maduro from power. Amid criticism that the government's response has been too slow, state media has highlighted rescue efforts, including footage of Rodríguez visiting a shelter in the badly affected town of Catia La Mar and survivors being pulled from the rubble. However, such scenes remain uncommon in the hardest-hit areas, where families continue waiting for news of missing relatives. "We have to stay strong, even without food, without sleep," said Ana Rada as rescue workers searched for her brother. "Until I see the body, I still have hope." Aftershock sparks fresh panic Monday's aftershock struck about 27 kilometers (17 miles) north of Caraballeda on Venezuela's Caribbean coast. The United States Geological Survey measured it at magnitude 4.6, while Colombia's geological survey estimated it at 5.1. National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez said there were no immediate reports of additional damage. Still, the tremor sent frightened residents rushing into the streets in Caracas. "Here we are again, back in the street. I don't know when we'll have a moment of true peace," said Concepción Hernández, a resident of Caracas. The Caracas Metro temporarily suspended operations to inspect infrastructure following the aftershock. US expands disaster assistance The disaster has also increased attention on the Trump administration, which assumed control of Venezuela's oil industry earlier this year. A senior US State Department official said about 300 American first responders are working alongside international rescue teams. Around two dozen C-17 military transport aircraft are delivering relief supplies daily, while total US assistance has exceeded $300 million. The US military is also helping repair damage at La Guaira port to facilitate the arrival of aid shipments and assisting with air traffic management after part of the control tower at Simón Bolívar International Airport was damaged in the earthquakes. However, the administration is not expected to grant temporary legal protections to Venezuelans already living in the United States, despite similar measures being adopted after major earthquakes in Haiti in 2010 and El Salvador in 2001. The Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement against Venezuelans, revoking temporary legal protections for hundreds of thousands and increasing deportation flights. Deported migrant joins rescue efforts Among those helping search through the rubble in La Guaira is miner Jean Sosa, who said he was deported from the United States in January after missing an immigration court hearing. Sosa said he returned to Caracas last month after a difficult journey through several countries and has since rescued 20 people alive while volunteering in the disaster zone. "I'm not involved in politics, but I believe many people could have been saved if there had been equipment and support from top authorities from the very beginning," he told AP. He said rescue teams continue to face shortages of basic equipment, forcing volunteers to work without gloves and improvise with limited supplies. Conflicting estimates of disaster's impactAuthorities and international agencies continue to offer sharply different estimates of the scale of destruction. Jorge Rodríguez said 15,866 people had been affected and 855 buildings had been damaged or destroyed. However, a preliminary assessment by NASA estimated that nearly 58,870 buildings were damaged or destroyed based on radar imagery from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-1 satellites. The United Nations estimates that up to 6.8 million of Venezuela's nearly 30 million people could be affected through displacement or disruption of essential services such as electricity and water. With communication networks badly affected, many Venezuelans have turned to online databases operated by non-governmental groups to report missing relatives. One such database has received reports of more than 50,000 missing people, although it remains unclear how many have since been found.

The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has climbed to 1,450, with more than 3,000 people injured, senior lawmaker Jorge Rodríguez said on Sunday. The latest figure marks an increase of 20 deaths from the previously reported toll of 1,430. Rodríguez said 3,150 people have been injured and a total of 12,721 people have been affected by the disaster. He described the twin earthquakes as "the most brutal natural catastrophe that our country has suffered in its history" and said the country was passing through "critical hours" in efforts to save lives. According to the official, the number of buildings damaged or destroyed has also risen to 774. Meanwhile, the United Nations said there is still hope of finding survivors trapped beneath the rubble, although the window for rescue is rapidly closing. Speaking from La Guaira, UN Resident Coordinator Gianluca Rampolla said experts believe some people could still be alive because of the way certain buildings collapsed. However, he warned that "time is running short" and noted that extremely high temperatures were complicating rescue efforts. Emergency workers continue search-and-rescue operations across the affected areas as authorities race against time to locate survivors and provide assistance to thousands of displaced and injured residents. Source: BBC

Residents across northern Venezuela joined hands to search through collapsed buildings for relatives and neighbors after two powerful earthquakes struck the country, leaving more than 230 people dead and thousands injured. The official death toll climbed to about 235 by late Thursday, while at least 4,300 people were reported injured, according to Health Minister Carlos Alvarado. Authorities warned that the number of fatalities could rise further as thousands of people remain unaccounted for and rescue operations continue. The twin earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, hit on Wednesday evening. They were among the strongest earthquakes to strike Venezuela in over a century and were felt across much of the region. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as many as 6.76 million people across Venezuela may have been affected, including nearly 2 million residents of the capital, Caracas. Loyce Pace, the International Red Cross’ regional director for the Americas, said many people remain too frightened to return to their homes. Rescue teams and local residents pulled survivors from the rubble, many covered in dust and blood, including children. State television broadcast dramatic rescue scenes, including the successful rescue of a woman trapped beneath a concrete slab, with only one of her feet visible before rescuers managed to free her. However, government search and rescue teams were initially scarce outside Caracas. The coastal state of La Guaira, located north of Caracas, was among the worst-hit areas, suffering extensive damage and heavy casualties. The region is home to the country's main international airport, which was shut down after sustaining damage, further hampering relief operations.

Venezuelans searched for survivors beneath collapsed buildings Thursday and rescue teams raced to northern areas rocked by a pair of powerful earthquakes that officials say killed around 235 people and left at least 4,300 people injured. “Unfortunately we have received around 235 patients who arrive without vital signs or die when they arrive at our health facilities,” Health Minister Carlos Alvarado told state media Thursday. The number of dead and injured is expected to rise with thousands reported missing after the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck Wednesday evening, which was among the strongest in Venezuela in more than a century and was felt throughout the region. Thousands were reported missing and buildings were evacuated as far away as Brazil’s Amazon. In response to the devastation, the U.S. Treasury on Thursday moved to waive some sanctions until Oct. 23 to allow transactions related to earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela that would otherwise be prohibited. Meanwhile, in cities across northern Venezuela, panicked residents poured into the streets and searched for the missing in the debris. The injured were pulled out of the rubble covered in dust and blood, among them children and animals. Venezuelan state TV showed dramatic images of rescues, including a woman who was trapped under a cement slab, only a barefoot poking out before crews managed to get her out alive. But few government search teams were seen outside Caracas. In the capital, Dayana Delgado, mother of three children, asked where the heavy machinery was that government officials had promised, pointing out that neighbors were the ones digging through the rubble. “I want to know where my child is, if he’s trapped or in a shelter,” she said of her 8-year-old son who was missing. One mother sobbed and collapsed in grief as the bodies of her 3- and 10-year-old children were wrapped in blankets and carried away. Others screamed the names of missing loved ones. Some stood in silent shock. The coastal region of La Guaira — north of the capital, Caracas — suffered some of the heaviest damage and casualties. The country’s main airport is there and was closed due to damage, complicating aid efforts. Retired schoolteacher Juan Alberto Mendaño climbed through wreckage in La Guaira and past a dead body when he spotted a woman who was trapped and signaling with her hand for help. “May God rescue her as quickly as possible,” said Mendaño. “When we heard the scream, there was nothing we could do.” Offers to send aid and supplies poured in from around the world, including from the United States, which seized Venezuela’s then-president Nicolas Maduro at the beginning of the year in a surprise military operation. The natural disaster is just the latest challenge for acting President Delcy Rodríguez, the former vice president who took office in January after Maduro’s capture. Venezuela has been facing economic disarray for more than a decade, and many people reject the legitimacy of the political movement Rodríguez represents. Rescue teams head to heavily damaged coastal region Venezuelan authorities said they were diverting rescue teams from other parts of the country to La Guaira, which is no stranger to natural disasters: a 1999 mudslide killed thousands in what is considered one of the country’s worst natural disasters. Rodríguez appealed to businesses Thursday to make heavy construction equipment available for rescue operations. “We hope to rescue as many living people as possible,” said Rodríguez, who referred to La Guaira as a “disaster zone.” She said the first rescuers from the Dominican Republic were about to land and more from other countries were expected to arrive in the coming hours. While Venezuela sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates makes strong earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America. The U.S. Geological Survey said the first earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.2, hit west of Moron on the Caribbean coast, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) west of Caracas. It had a depth of 22 kilometers (about 14 miles). Just a minute later, USGS reported a second 7.5 magnitude earthquake, with a depth of 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) and an epicenter 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Moron. The one-two punch of the quakes, combined with the shallow seismic movements, amplified the destruction, said Marcos Ferreira, a geophysicist and researcher at the Geological Survey of Brazil. “It is as if I am screaming and then someone starts screaming, too. That amplifies the vibration and adds to the potential hazard,” Ferreira said. Venezuela residents reeling from quakes During the quakes, people ran from swaying buildings. Many were stunned Thursday morning as they saw buildings reduced to skeletons, furniture hanging out of windows and helicopters circling overhead. In La Guaira, Cristian Carreño stared at his charred apartment building tilting precariously to one side. “I lost everything,” he said. “There are people still inside, I imagine, that couldn’t get out. It’s incredibly devastating.” In downtown Caracas, hundreds spent the night huddled in parks, parking lots and other open spaces. “We were afraid the buildings would collapse on us,” said María Cristina Díaz, a 41-year-old janitor. “My mother, my daughter and I were cold. We didn’t sleep a wink.” Parts of the capital lost power and cellphone service, Rodríguez said. Subway services were suspended and natural gas was shut off, she said. Classes will also be canceled for several days, and the Ministry of Education said some school buildings would be used as shelters and donation centers. Families began posting missing-person flyers with photos of loved ones, while others shared handwritten lists of names as they searched for loved ones. Venezuelans living abroad struggled to make contact with relatives. Shortly after United Nations officials in Venezuela called on the government to lift social media restrictions so people can get potentially life-saving information, Venezuelans in the country were able to access X. The site had been blocked by Maduro since August 2024, in an attempt to suppress the exchange of information among those who rejected his claim of victory in the July presidential election. Several governments offered assistance Rodríguez declared a state of emergency in an address to the nation late Wednesday. She said the government was creating a $200 million reconstruction fund for damaged hospitals and homes. Leaders from Mexico, Qatar, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Canada vowed to send aid. A number of shipments were already on the way Thursday. Aid included emergency and military personnel, canine and search teams, medical supplies, water purifiers, airplanes and drones. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who spoke to Rodríguez following the quake, said the United States was “immediately” deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources other assistance, though he acknowledged the closure of Venezuela’s main airport created logistical challenges. “We have a whole-of-government response. It’ll be big; it’ll be fast; and it’ll be effective,” Rubio said.  

Rescue teams and residents continued searching through collapsed buildings in northern Venezuela on Thursday after two powerful earthquakes killed at least 188 people, injured around 1,500 and left more than 200 trapped beneath the rubble. The twin quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck Wednesday evening and were among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century. Thousands of people were also reported missing across the country. Authorities said the coastal state of La Guaira, north of the capital Caracas, suffered some of the worst destruction, with dozens of buildings collapsing and heavy casualties reported. Panic gripped cities across northern Venezuela as residents rushed into the streets and searched through debris for missing relatives and neighbors. Television footage showed rescue workers using power tools to cut through piles of rubble in search of survivors. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez described La Guaira as a "disaster zone" and said rescue teams from other parts of the country were being deployed to the area. She also appealed to businesses to provide heavy construction equipment to aid rescue efforts and said United Nations-certified search-and-rescue teams were on their way. State television showed several survivors, including three children, being pulled alive from the debris in La Guaira. The earthquakes also damaged and forced the closure of Venezuela's main airport, while buildings were evacuated as far away as Brazil's Amazon region, around 1,700 kilometres from Caracas. The latest disaster poses a major challenge for the government of Acting President Rodríguez as Venezuela continues to struggle with a prolonged economic crisis and political uncertainty. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the first 7.2-magnitude quake struck near the Caribbean coastal city of Moron at a depth of about 22 kilometres. A second, stronger 7.5-magnitude quake followed just a minute later at a depth of around 10 kilometres. Officials have urged residents to remain outdoors, warning that aftershocks could trigger further building collapses and additional casualties.

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela in quick succession on Wednesday evening, causing widespread damage, collapsing buildings and forcing residents to flee into the streets in panic. The quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, were felt across a vast area, prompting evacuations in cities as far away as Brazil’s Amazon region, nearly 1,700 kilometers from Caracas. In a brief address late Wednesday, acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the earthquakes caused damage in several states but did not provide details on the number of affected buildings, injuries or deaths. She said the country's main gateway, Simón Bolívar International Airport, suffered significant damage and was temporarily closed. Classes across affected areas were also suspended for several days. “We urge our population to remain calm,” Rodríguez said, calling for national unity as emergency services responded to the disaster. She directed healthcare workers to report to hospitals to assist the injured, while the Education Ministry announced that some schools would be converted into temporary shelters and donation centers. In the coastal state of Falcon, Governor Víctor Clark said 32 people had been hospitalized and 15 others remained trapped under debris more than four hours after the quake. According to the United States Geological Survey, the first earthquake struck west of Morón, a Caribbean coastal community about 168 kilometers west of Caracas, at a depth of 22 kilometers. The agency later revised the quake’s magnitude from 7.1 to 7.2. Just one minute later, a second and stronger 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit about 16 kilometers southwest of Morón at a depth of 10 kilometers. The earthquakes, among the strongest recorded in Venezuela in more than a century, struck shortly after 6 p.m. Residents evacuated swaying buildings in Caracas, where entire walls collapsed in some areas and clouds of dust rose above neighborhoods. Many people remained outdoors for hours after the tremors, with fallen power poles, debris and damaged buildings blocking roads. Some parts of the capital also experienced power outages and disruptions to mobile phone services. “It started off gently and then gradually grew, and in the end, we all had to leave our houses and gather outside,” Caracas resident Hector Ricci said. Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and announced the suspension of metro and natural gas services in Caracas. She also urged citizens to report damage through a government mobile application. Communication disruptions added to the anxiety of families, including many with relatives among the more than 7.7 million Venezuelans who have left the country during its prolonged economic and political crisis. Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who is living in exile, expressed solidarity with those affected and called for calm and unity. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the tremors were felt in several states and described the situation in Caracas' Altamira district as particularly serious, with reports of collapsed homes and buildings. He urged residents to remain outdoors because aftershocks could further weaken damaged structures. “The building really shook from side to side. The force was incredibly strong,” Caracas resident Roberto Gamas said. “Everything in the apartment fell, but thankfully we were able to get out.” Messages of support quickly emerged from around the world. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said Washington was coordinating assistance efforts, while Nayib Bukele and Daniel Noboa also offered aid and expressed solidarity with Venezuela. The earthquakes were also felt in parts of Brazil and Colombia, though no major damage or injuries were immediately reported in those countries. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center briefly issued tsunami alerts after the quakes but later canceled them. Strong earthquakes are relatively uncommon in Venezuela. Although the country lies near several fault lines at the boundary of the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates, it experiences far fewer major earthquakes than Pacific coast nations such as Mexico and Chile, which sit along the seismically active Ring of Fire.

Colombians headed to the polls on Sunday to elect their next president in a closely contested runoff between conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella and leftist candidate Iván Cepeda, with both contenders pledging to tackle rising violence and political polarization. The election pits businessman and lawyer de la Espriella against Cepeda, a senator and political ally of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, Colombia's first leftist president. The two candidates advanced to the runoff after defeating nine rivals in the first round held on May 31. Security has dominated the campaign, with both candidates warning of a resurgence of the violence that plagued Colombia for decades, including bombings, kidnappings, disappearances and forced displacement. De la Espriella, a political newcomer nicknamed "The Tiger," has proposed a hardline security strategy inspired by the policies of El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and has received the endorsement of U.S. President Donald Trump. He has pledged to crack down on crime and build 10 mega-prisons. Cepeda, meanwhile, has vowed to continue Petro's efforts to achieve "total peace" through negotiations with guerrilla groups and criminal organizations, despite limited success so far. The candidates also differ sharply on how to address Colombia's economic challenges, including a struggling healthcare system, rising public debt and entrenched corruption. More than 41 million Colombians are eligible to vote in the runoff. Official results from the first round showed de la Espriella winning 44 percent of the vote, while Cepeda secured 41 percent. The election comes a decade after Colombia signed a landmark peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), but violence has since resurged as armed groups increasingly turned to drug trafficking and other criminal activities. Authorities recorded 14,780 homicides last year, the highest number since at least 2015, while extortion cases have more than doubled compared with a decade ago. The campaign has also been marked by growing tensions, with both candidates trading accusations of fraud, intimidation and vote-buying. Cepeda recently filed a complaint with Colombia's Attorney General's Office and the International Criminal Court, accusing de la Espriella of having links to paramilitary groups. The conservative candidate has denied the allegations. Analysts say Sunday's vote will determine whether Colombia continues Petro's leftist agenda or shifts toward a more conservative and security-focused approach amid growing concerns over violence and political divisions.