Venezuela’s government blames ‘sabotage’ for widespread power outage

By evening, power had been restored in many parts of the capital, and Maduro appeared on state TV to thank citizens for their patience during the chaotic day.

Buildings stand in darkness during a power outage in Caracas, Venezuela, at dawn on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A significant power outage plunged Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, and several other states into darkness on Friday, disrupting daily life for millions. The blackout, which began around 4:50 a.m., affected all 24 states in the country, according to Communications Minister Freddy Nanez. The Venezuelan government, led by President Nicolás Maduro, quickly attributed the outage to “electrical sabotage.”

By evening, power had been restored in many parts of the capital, and Maduro appeared on state TV to thank citizens for their patience during the chaotic day.

Nanez described the incident as a “desperate” attempt by opposition forces to destabilize the nation and remove Maduro from power. “Nobody will take away our peace and tranquility,” he assured in a message shared on Telegram.

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Throughout the day, Caracas experienced sporadic power restorations, but many areas remained without electricity for hours. The outage caused significant disruptions, with businesses closing, hospitals relying on backup generators, and tens of thousands stranded due to the closure of the Caracas subway.

A police officer directs traffic while the traffic lights are out in Valencia, Venezuela. (AP photo)

In 2019, Venezuela faced regular power outages amid political unrest, with the government often blaming opposition sabotage, while energy experts pointed to poor maintenance of the country’s hydroelectric infrastructure, particularly the Guri Dam.

The recent stability in Venezuela’s economy, eased inflation, and reduced shortages had lessened the frequency of such blackouts. However, following last month’s contested presidential election, officials have been quick to blame opponents for any disruptions, as seen in a smaller brownout earlier this week.

Vendors stand next to dark, empty refrigerators at a markek in Valencia, Venezuela. (AP photo)

Despite the government’s claims of sabotage, residents of Caracas appeared to take the outage in stride. Traffic was lighter than usual during the typically busy rush hour, and some residents, like 25-year-old salesclerk Alejandra Martinez, adjusted to the situation with minimal fuss. “I thought the power would come back and I went back to sleep,” Martinez said. “But when I woke up, I realized it was an outage.”

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Venezuela’s power grid, heavily reliant on the aging Guri Dam, continues to face challenges due to poor upkeep, limited alternative energy sources, and a significant loss of skilled labor as millions of Venezuelans have left the country in recent years.

(With inputs from AP)