The US military has been targeting, in recent days, alleged drug-smuggling boats.
Venezuela capital hit by explosions as Donald Trump-ordered air (Image: NC)
At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft have been heard in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. It was not immediately clear what was behind the explosions. Venezuela’s government, the Pentagon and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. People in various neighbourhoods rushed to the streets as explosions hit at around 2am local time on Saturday. Some could be seen in the distance from various areas of Caracas.
The Venezuelan Government has also kept quiet about the cause of the explosions, having also not responded to requests for comment. Power in a large section of the capital is also reportedly knocked off, with one outage coming near one of the country’s major military bases.
Soldiers guard the area around the Miraflores presidential palace (Image: AP)
Carmen Hidalgo, a 21-year-old office worker, was in Caracas heading back from a birthday party and was left shaken by the round of explosions.
Speaking to AP, her voice trembled as she added: “The whole ground shook. This is horrible. We heard explosions and planes in the distance. We felt like the air was hitting us.”
Osmary Hernandez, a CNN correspondent who witnessed the explosions, added: “One was so strong, my window was shaking after it.”
According to local media, explosions were heard outside the capital, too. Efecto Cocuyo, a Venezuelan news outlet, reported that explosions also happened in La Guaira, just north of the capital and in Higuerote, a city on the country’s coast.
Videos circulating online show orange plumes of smoke rising up from the capital, with one video showing a flash and a booming sound coming from the base of one of the smoke clouds.
The explosions in the capital come during a tense time between the US and Venezuela.
Neither country is yet to comment on the explosions (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
In recent weeks, Donald Trump has upped his animosity towards the South American nation, promising that American troops could set foot on Venezuelan soil as the president wants to combat alleged drug trafficking into the US
Alongside sweeping sanctions and pressures for President Nicolás Maduro to stand down, the US has also been targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea.
Last week, Trump confirmed the US military had carried out a “hit” in the country where a drug smuggling operation is thought to have taken place.
The president failed to confirm who carried out the strike, but it was widely reported that the CIA was responsible.
Maduro and the Venezuelan government have denied any involvement in drug trafficking and have said that he would work with the US to help tackle the issue.
Many nations have condemned the attacks as extrajudicial killings, and Maduro’s government has always denied any involvement with drug trafficking.
