CARACAS, July 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Caracas and other parts of crisis-wracked Venezuela were hit by a massive power cut on Monday.
The lights went out in most of Caracas at 4.41pm while people in other parts of the country took to social media to report the power had gone out there too.
The state-owned power company CORPOELEC only reported a breakdown affecting sectors of Caracas.
The capital was hit by huge traffic jams due to the traffic lights losing power while the sidewalks were full of pedestrians walking home as the metro had stopped running.
An even bigger power outage in March affected all 23 states in Venezuela and lasted a week, paralyzing basic services such as the water supply and forcing the working day and school classes to be suspended.
President Nicolas Maduro had blamed unnamed “terrorists” for that near-nationwide blackout, claiming they had attacked the Guri hydroelectric plant in the south of the country that supplies power to 80 per cent of Venezuela’s 30 million inhabitants.
Another huge outage in April left large parts of the country, including Caracas, in darkness, although it lasted hours rather than days.
Blackouts are a common occurrence in Venezuela, especially in remote western regions.
The government usually blames them on sabotage but experts say that a lack of investment, poor management and corruption are the more likely culprits.
Meanwhile, Germany’s ambassador to Venezuela has returned after being expelled by President Nicolas Maduro’s government in March over Berlin’s backing of opposition leader Juan Guaido’s claim to the presidency.
Daniel Kriener arrived back in the crisis-hit South American nation at the weekend to “once again perform his duties from Caracas,” the German embassy said on Twitter.
In March, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza declared Kriener “persona non grata” as he was given 48 hours to leave the country.
Maduro’s government had accused Kriener of “interference” after he welcomed Guaido back at Caracas airport following the National Assembly speaker’s controversial trip abroad to meet allied regional leaders.
Guaido – who in January declared himself acting president in a direct challenge to the socialist leader’s authority – was under a travel ban imposed by the regime.
Germany is one of the more than 50 countries to have recognized Guaido’s claims. — NNN-AGENCIES
