In Venezuela's capital Caracas and other regions of the country, there were blackouts today of the power supply, the Associated Press reported. The government of President Nicolás Maduro stated that the interruptions were the result of sabotage, writes BTA.
Communications Minister Freddy Nanes said officials were working to restore power.
„No one will take away the peace and tranquility of the Venezuelan people,” he wrote in a message on the “Telegram” application shared with journalists.
For years, Venezuela has suffered regular blackouts, which the government almost always blames on its opponents. According to energy experts, they are the result of fires that damage transmission lines and the poor maintenance of the country's electricity transmission infrastructure.
Many of the energy problems have subsided as Venezuela's economy stabilized, high inflation eased, and de facto dollarization eased shortages of imported goods.
After a contested presidential election last month, heads of state were quick to blame their opponents for even minor disruptions. Such was the case on Tuesday, when a power outage affected Caracas and several power plants in the area, the AP recalls.
„This is a constant strategy of the opposition, of the enemies of this country, to influence the population,” said Diosdado Cabello, the newly appointed Minister of the Interior. He is considered the second most powerful person in the country.
The residents of the capital took Friday's disturbances calmly. Traffic during the normally busy rush hour was lighter than usual, and some people complained that they could not communicate with loved ones due to the lack of mobile connection.