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Explosions Rock Caracas Amid U.S.-Venezuela Tensions, Power Outages Reported

A series of loud explosions rocked Caracas overnight, triggering power outages in several neighborhoods, though the cause remains unclear with no official confirmation. The incident occurred amid sharply heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela, involving U.S. sanctions, accusations of narco-terrorism, and military actions. Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for an immediate UN Security Council meeting to address what he termed "aggression against Venezuela." Meanwhile, President Maduro's government signaled a potential shift, expressing openness to dialogue with Washington on combating drug trafficking in the region.

Key Points: Explosions in Caracas Cause Power Outages, Heighten U.S.-Venezuela Tensions

  • Explosions cause power outages in Caracas
  • Cause remains unconfirmed, no official statement
  • Occurs amid high U.S.-Venezuela tensions
  • Petro calls for UN Security Council meeting
  • Maduro signals openness to U.S. dialogue on drugs
3 min read

Venezuela: Explosions rock Caracas overnight, power outages reported

Loud explosions caused power outages in Caracas, with unclear causes amid heightened U.S.-Venezuela tensions over oil, sanctions, and drug trafficking.

"Colombia is a member of the United Nations Security Council which must be convened immediately. Establish the international legality of the aggression against Venezuela. - Gustavo Petro"

Caracas, January 3

A series of loud explosions were reported across Venezuela's capital Caracas early Saturday, triggering power outages in several neighbourhoods, CNN reported.

According to CNN, multiple blasts were heard in different parts of the city, with the first explosion occurring at around 1:50 am local time.

CNN reported that following the explosions, electricity was cut in several areas of the capital, leaving parts of the city in darkness.

The cause of the explosions remains unclear, and there has been no official confirmation from Venezuelan authorities on whether the blasts were linked to military activity, air operations or any external involvement.

Residents in several neighbourhoods reported panic as loud booms echoed through the city during the early morning hours. Social media users in Caracas also shared accounts of hearing explosions and seeing flashes in the sky, CNN reported.

There was no immediate information on casualties or damage, and officials had not released a statement at the time of reporting.

Former Colombian President, Gustavo Petro called for the convention of the UN Security council to discuss the US action against Venezuela. "Colombia is a member of the United Nations Security Council which must be convened immediately. Establish the international legality of the aggression against Venezuela," he posted on X.

The explosions occurred amid sharply heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela, as President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of presiding over what he has described as a "narco-terrorist" government. The US has also imposed sanctions on vessels it claims are involved in transporting Venezuelan oil.

At the same time, the US military has stepped up actions against Venezuelan boats in the region, alleging their involvement in drug and narcotics smuggling. Trump has called on Maduro to step down, accusing Venezuela of carrying out "terrible things" against the United States.

Trump has also alleged that Venezuela has contributed to illegal migration into the US, claiming, "Hundreds of thousands of people, millions of people, into our open border. They sent their criminals, they sent their prisoners, they sent their drug dealers, they sent their mentally insane and incompetent people into our country, more than any other country," he had said.

Amid President Donald Trump's calls for regime change in Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro has accused the United States of seeking control over Venezuelan oil. Last month, Maduro claimed that "Trump has gone mad" and said he would not "let anybody go through who shouldn't be going through".

However, the Venezuelan government signalled a possible shift in tone on Friday, saying it was open to dialogue with Washington to address drug trafficking in the region.

"The US government knows, because we've told many of their spokespeople, that if they want to seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking, we're ready," Maduro said.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Sounds like a very tense situation. The article mentions no official confirmation, so we should be careful about jumping to conclusions. But the timing with the US-Venezuela tensions is suspicious. External interference in sovereign nations never ends well for the common people. 🇮🇳
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Rohit P
Oil seems to be the root of so many global conflicts. Maduro's accusation about the US wanting control over Venezuelan oil is a familiar story. We've seen this pattern before in the Middle East. Hope diplomacy prevails and there's no escalation.
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Sarah B
Reading this from an Indian perspective, it's a stark reminder of how fragile global stability is. We have our own border tensions, but at least we have mechanisms to de-escalate. The complete lack of information from Venezuelan authorities is worrying for their citizens.
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Vikram M
While the situation is bad, I have to respectfully disagree with the article's framing. It heavily leans on US-Venezuela tensions but provides zero evidence these explosions are related. Could be an internal accident or infrastructure failure. Media should report facts, not fuel speculation.
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Meera T
My heart goes out to the residents who had to wake up to this panic. Power outages after explosions? Terrifying. Hope the UN Security Council, as suggested, can play a constructive role. The world doesn't need another war zone. 🙏

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