Venezuela Struggles with Massive Power Outage Amid Political Turmoil

Venezuela is grappling with a nationwide power outage that has left much of the country in darkness. The government, led by President Nicolas Maduro, has attributed the blackout to sabotage, a claim that has been met with skepticism by the opposition. This latest incident comes amid a backdrop of political tension and disputed election results.

The power failure, which struck early Friday morning, affected all 24 states in Venezuela, according to Communications Minister Freddy Nanez. By midday, power had begun to return to some areas, including the capital Caracas and major cities such as Maracaibo, Valencia, and Puerto Ordaz. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello assured the public that electricity would be restored gradually, starting with the capital.

Residents across the country are bracing for the worst, with many stocking up on essentials like fuel and food. In the western city of Barquisimeto, long lines at petrol stations were reported as people prepared for potential extended outages. Lawyer Alexa Rivas, 29, drove to a service station outside the city to avoid the crowds, highlighting the anxiety felt by many Venezuelans who have lived through previous blackouts.

The most severe power outage in recent memory occurred in March 2019, lasting several days and causing significant disruption. Authorities at the time blamed saboteurs and opponents of Maduro's government for the outages. Nanez echoed these sentiments on Friday, describing the latest incident as "a new electrical sabotage." He assured the public that the government had implemented "anti-coup protocols" following the recent disputed election on July 28.

The political climate in Venezuela remains volatile, with both the government and opposition claiming victory in last month's election. The electoral authority and Supreme Court have backed Maduro, but international calls for the release of full vote tallies have gone unanswered. Arrests of opposition figures have surged in the past week, with former presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado under investigation for incitement and other crimes.

Gonzalez has ignored summons to testify about a website where the opposition has posted what it claims are more than 80 percent of ballot box vote tallies, showing a resounding win for Gonzalez. At least 27 people have been killed, including two military personnel, and nearly 200 others have been wounded in protest-related violence since the election.

The power outage adds another layer of complexity to the already fraught political situation in Venezuela. As the country struggles to restore electricity, the underlying tensions between the government and opposition continue to simmer, with no clear resolution in sight.