Maduro Declares Emergency as Explosions Rock Caracas
Maduro Declares Emergency as Explosions Rock Caracas
Caracas reels after a string of blasts; Maduro declares a state of external disturbance and accuses the United States of attempting to seize Venezuela's oil and mineral resources.
At least seven explosions and the sound of low-flying aircraft were heard across Caracas around 2 am local time on December 3, prompting President Nicolás Maduro to declare a state of emergency and accuse the United States of carrying out an attack on the country. The cause of the blasts could not be independently confirmed, and the government said the strikes hit civilian and military installations in multiple states.
The government framed the incident as part of an effort by the United States to seize Venezuela’s oil and mineral resources, and Maduro announced a 'state of external disturbance' to mobilize defenses. Residents in several neighborhoods rushed into the streets as smoke rose from a hangar at a military base in Caracas, and another installation reportedly lost power.
The Pentagon and the White House did not respond to the claims, leaving international observers awaiting verification of the alleged strikes and their scope. In a related precaution, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued a Notice to Airmen banning American commercial and private flights from Venezuelan airspace and over the nearby island of Curaçao, citing safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing military activity.
Analysts have noted the regional context of heightened tensions, including a visible US military buildup in the Caribbean, with vessels such as the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier and other ships deployed nearby. While the government asserted that civilian and military sites were struck, independent verification remained unavailable and authorities cautioned that the exact nature and targeting of the blasts could not yet be confirmed.
As Caracas and its residents call for calm, authorities urged people to stay informed through official channels while investigations proceed and the full impact of the events remains unclear.
