Morning Edition, September 30, 2026
Every Lexy News brief, written out. Three stories, three times a day.
Venezuela
On June 24, back-to-back quakes struck Venezuela’s La Guaira coastal strip, leaving buildings in ruins and some government-built housing towers collapsed or badly damaged. Scientists had warned the government not to build tall apartment complexes there, where a major fault line and poor silt soil could amplify earthquake shaking. Authorities built concrete public-housing towers along the coast anyway. Engineers, seismologists and former officials said the site choice greatly increased the risk of catastrophic damage.
Sources Greenwich Time Wtop
Ecuador
Ecuador’s prison agency, SNAI, said two inmates escaped Sept. 21 from Cuenca’s Turi prison, officially the Azuay No. 1 prison, a facility where at least 20 prisoners were killed in a riot on April 3, 2022. The escape exposes Ecuador’s struggle to control detention centers tied to gang violence. The government says it is also targeting gang logistics networks, including operations linked to the Chone Killers, to keep weapons, money, phones, drugs and orders from reaching street crews.
Sources Ground Dialogo Americas
Colombia
Colombia has extradited Geovany Andres Rojas to the United States, President Abelardo de la Espriella announced September 25, 2026. Colombian authorities allege Rojas led a drug trafficking organization formed by former members of the FARC rebel group, making him a figure tied to former FARC criminal structures. The handover gives Washington custody of an alleged trafficking leader and signals a security approach under de la Espriella that is more closely aligned with the United States.
Sources Greenwich Time Al Jazeera Wola
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