Caracas, Venezuela – The Venezuelan capital, Caracas, was rocked by a series of violent explosions in the early hours of Saturday morning. Strategic locations were targeted, sparking widespread panic and heavy military aircraft activity, indicating an unprecedented military escalation in the region.
15 minutes of continuous explosions
The explosions began at 2:00 AM local time and continued for approximately 15 minutes. Reporters from international news agencies, including AFP and Reuters, reported hearing at least seven massive explosions that shook buildings. These were followed by the sound of sirens that filled the city.
Targets and locations affected
The explosions were concentrated in the heart of the capital and its southern districts. Plumes of smoke were seen rising from La Carlota Air Base. Thick clouds of smoke also billowed from the military airport in central Caracas.
Fort Tiuna, the most important military complex in the south of the capital, was hit directly. El Libertador Air Base in Maracay was also reportedly targeted, as was the Venezuelan Air Force headquarters outside the capital.
Total darkness and mass exodus
Simultaneously with the first explosion, power went out in most of Caracas, particularly in areas surrounding military barracks.
Videos circulating on social media showed hundreds of residents fleeing their homes into the streets in a state of shock, as smoke blanketed the capital’s sky amidst the flashes of successive explosions.
Context of the escalation: Washington’s threats
This attack comes at a time of heightened tensions with the United States. The US Department of Defense had previously threatened a ground offensive, asserting that the days of President Nicolás Maduro’s administration were numbered.
The official silence: As of yet, neither the White House nor Caracas has issued an official statement confirming the nature of the operation or the extent of the casualties. The international community awaits the first statement from the Venezuelan Ministry of Defense.
