The blackout, which forced the closure of the metro system in the capital city, was the latest blow to the impoverished, politically torn country.
By Mary Beth Sheridan Mary Beth Sheridan Correspondent covering Mexico and Central America Email Bio Follow March 8 at 6:41 AM CARACAS, Venezuela — A massive blackout plunged Caracas and much of the nation into chaos Thursday, forcing the rush-hour closure of the capital’s metro and sending tens of thousands of people into the streets in what the authorities alleged was an act of “sabotage.”
Venezuela is especially tense at the moment, as a U.S.-backed opposition movement seeks to push President Nicolás Maduro from power. Over 50 countries have recognized the National Assembly speaker, Juan Guaidó, as the legitimate president of Venezuela, citing irregularities in Maduro’s reelection last year. The opposition leader is planning a massive rally Saturday. Maduro accuses him of attempting a coup with help from Washington.
Relatives of a patient walk in the darkened hall of a clinic with a candle lighting the way, during a power outage in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, March 7, 2019. “The power outage and the devastation hurting ordinary Venezuelans is not because of the USA. It’s not because of Colombia. It’s not Ecuador or Brazil, Europe or anywhere else. Power shortages and starvation are the result of the Maduro regime’s incompetence,” he wrote.The outage began about 5 p.m., at the start of rush hour.
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