Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Monday that he will declare a state of emergency over the guerrilla attacks in the northeast that have killed dozens of people and forced thousands to flee their homes.

At least 80 people are dead and more than 18,000 have been forced to flee their homes in Colombia, officials say, amid fierce clashes between two rival armed groups on the border with Venezuela.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Monday he will declare a state of emergency after guerilla attacks by the ELN in the northeast of the country killed at least 80 people and forced over 11,000 to flee.

The move comes as special forces advanced into guerrilla-controlled territories near the Venezuelan border on Tuesday, January 21, aiming to re-establish state control. The mountainous northeastern Catatumbo region has witnessed a surge in fighting between armed leftist groups competing for control over coca plantations and trafficking routes.