Several explosions were heard across Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, in the early hours of Saturday, unsettling residents and prompting fears of a major security incident in a city already strained by political and economic turmoil.
Witnesses reported at least seven loud blasts around 2 a.m. local time, accompanied by the sound of low-flying aircraft over several neighbourhoods.
According to local reports, the southern area of the city, close to a major military base, was left without electricity following the explosions. Large sections of the capital were plunged into darkness, with residents pouring into the streets to assess the situation and seek safety.
Some witnesses said flashes of light could be seen in the distance, while others described a heavy military presence shortly after the blasts.
The Venezuelan government did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and no official explanation was provided regarding the cause of the explosions or the power outage.
Authorities also did not report any casualties or damage in the immediate aftermath, leaving residents and analysts to speculate about the nature of the incident.
The explosions come at a particularly sensitive moment for Venezuela, as relations with the United States remain tense. In recent days, the US military has been targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean, a move that Caracas views with suspicion.
On Friday, Venezuela announced it was open to negotiating an agreement with Washington to combat drug trafficking, signalling a potential diplomatic opening after years of strained relations.
However, President Nicolás Maduro has repeatedly accused the United States of attempting to force a change of government in Venezuela. He has claimed that Washington’s pressure campaign, which intensified with a large-scale US military deployment to the Caribbean Sea in August, is aimed at gaining access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
“These actions are part of a strategy of intimidation and destabilisation,” Maduro said earlier this week, referring to US military activities in the region. The government has long argued that foreign powers are seeking to undermine Venezuela’s sovereignty under the pretext of combating narcotics trafficking.
Security analysts note that the proximity of the reported explosions to a military base raises concerns about possible sabotage or military incidents, though no evidence has yet been presented to support such claims. Others caution that infrastructure failures, including power grid issues, have previously caused loud explosions and widespread blackouts in the country.
As dawn broke over Caracas, many residents remained anxious, awaiting official information. Social media was flooded with videos and eyewitness accounts, though much of the information remained unverified.
“This is a developing story,” local media outlets reported, as authorities worked to assess the situation. Further updates are expected as more details emerge about the cause of the explosions, the extent of the damage, and their broader implications for Venezuela’s security and regional stability.