Massive Blackout Strikes Venezuela, Government Blames “Electromagnetic Attack”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A new blackout in Venezuela left much of the country without electricity on Monday, July 22nd. According to Reuters, at least 14 states were left without power.

However, Venezuelan media outlets such as El Nacional speak of up to 23 affected states as well as the capital, Caracas.

Venezuelan Communications Minister Jorge Rodríguez said an “electromagnetic attack” on the Guayana hydroelectric dam triggered the country’s power outage. He did not say, however, who might have carried out the attack — nor did he provide details regarding the alleged offense.

“We have activated measures to address constraints in drinking water services, transportation, surveillance, and addressing any situation in health services,” Rodríguez said. The minister’s statement echoes his past concern over providing essential services to the Venezuelan population during the blackout.

In March, footage of Venezuelans looking for drinking water and problems with access to health care traveled the world.

Earlier, the state-owned company Corporación Eléctrica Nacional (Corpoelec) reported that a “breakdown” had affected parts of the capital city, without disclosing the extent of the blackout.

According to France Press, power was down at 2:41 PM (local time, 4:41 PM Rio time). The blackout caused subway stations to close. Traffic lights were out, which disrupted traffic in Caracas.

Local media outlets reported that electrical power had not yet returned to Caracas by 8:45 PM (Rio time) on Monday.

Blackouts in Venezuela

Blackouts are frequent in Venezuela, particularly in the west of the country. The Chávez government often blamed the opposition for sabotage, while the opposition and industry experts blame Nicolás Maduro’s regime for the lack of investment in infrastructure and corruption amid a severe economic recession.

In March, Venezuela suffered a series of blackouts — regarded as the worst in decades — when 23 states other than Caracas were left without power. Millions of people were left without running water or access to telecommunication services.

The government of Nicolás Maduro attributed the blackout to “terrorist attacks” against the Guri hydroelectric plant (in the state of Bolívar), which generates 80 percent of the electricity used in the country; he blamed it on the opposition and the United States.

In April, another cut in power left much of the territory in the dark, in a blackout that lasted several hours.