A series of powerful explosions rocked the Venezuelan capital of Caracas early Saturday, with reports indicating the strikes were carried out by the United States and resulted in damage to the city’s electricity infrastructure.
The first explosion occurred at approximately 1:50 a.m. local time, according to a CNN team on the ground. Correspondent Osmary Hernandez reported the intensity of the blasts, stating, “One was so strong, my window was shaking after it.”
The attacks caused immediate and widespread disruption. CNN reported that parts of the capital have been cut off from the electricity grid, plunging several neighborhoods into darkness. In the aftermath, the sound of aircraft could be heard flying over the city.
Visual evidence obtained and verified by CNN depicted the severity of the situation. A video showed two plumes of smoke billowing into the night sky, with an orange glow visible at the base of one column before a flash and a distant boom were heard.
The explosions were not confined to Caracas. Local Venezuelan news outlets, including Efecto Cocuyo and Tal Cual Digital, reported that blasts were also heard in La Guaira state to the north and in the coastal city of Higuerote in Miranda state.
The military action follows repeated public warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump. He has stated that the United States was preparing new actions against alleged drug trafficking networks in Venezuela and indicated that strikes on land would commence soon.
In October, Trump announced he had authorized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to operate inside Venezuela to curb the illegal flow of migrants and drugs.
The cause of the specific explosions is under investigation, but the events align directly with the Trump administration’s escalated threats against the Venezuelan government.
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