Power Outage Hits Venezuela; Government Accuses of an Attack
Title: Nationwide Power Outage Strikes Venezuela - yet again!
August 30, 2024, oursite.com - This Friday, Venezuela plunged into darkness, a nationwide blackout casting a shadow over all 24 states in the Caribbean nation.
A 4:30 am power blip was followed by a widespread failure, leaving the country in the dark.
Venezuelan Communications Minister Freddy Nanéz accused entities of sabotaging the country's electric infrastructure, stating, "We're once again victims of electrical sabotage across many states, including the capital." He assured citizens that the electricity authorities were working tirelessly to restore service.
Nanéz also reported that buses were deployed in Caracas to replace the subway system, and promised, "No one will steal Venezuelans' peace and tranquility."
President Nicolás Maduro denounced a "criminal attack" against the electric system, blaming "desperate fascist" sectors. He urged the population to remain calm.
Venezuelan history echoes with major electricity issues—we remember the 2019 blackout that left the nation in darkness for days. The Maduro administration then pointed fingers at a terrorist attack targeting the Guri Dam—Venezuela's main electricity source.
As the day progressed, power supply began to be restored in some areas, with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello asserting that measures were being taken to restore power across the country while protecting the electric grid from future assaults. Inquiries into the denounced sabotage were underway.
By 3:30 pm, media outlets and social media users reported that at least partial electricity had been restored in all states, including Zulia and Táchira in western Venezuela.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced the "Centella Plan" to address the national emergency, facilitating transportation and patrolling the streets.
During a Friday evening press conference, President Maduro revealed that the blackout was due to sabotage at the Simón Bolívar Hydroelectric Plant—the Guri Dam. This 10,235 MW dam, located in Bolívar state, serves as Venezuela's primary electricity source.
Maduro continued, detailing that the sabotage aimed at transmission lines and was planned on a grand scale, with the intention of causing lasting damage. However, he stated that the improved protection system at the Guri Dam prevented its collapse. Investigations aim to determine guilty parties, with Maduro pointing the finger at extremist factions.
The president credited the citizenry's composure during the chaos and called for those behind the sabotage to face justice.
- The Venezuelan Communications Minister, Freddy Nanéz, stated that the nationwide electricity blackout in Venezuela was a result of sabotage on the country's electric infrastructure.
- Despite the ongoing power outage, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro assured citizens that the electricity authorities were working diligently to restore service, indicating characteristics of resilience and determination.
- In the general news, the current blackout follows the electrical issues that Venezuela faced back in 2019, which also resulted in widespread power outages, hinting at war-and-conflicts-related tensions in the nation's politics.
- President Maduro revealed during a press conference that the recent power outage was due to sabotage on the Simón Bolívar Hydroelectric Plant, the main electricity source of Venezuela, indicating that the ongoing political instability could lead to continued fluctuations in the nation's power supplies.
