Venezuela in Darkness: Blackout Crisis Amid Political Tensions

Venezuela faced a nationwide blackout on Friday, with the government attributing the outage to sabotage by opposition forces. The blackout impacted all 24 states, halting metro services and affecting the state oil company PDVSA. President Nicolas Maduro's administration is embroiled in a dispute over the presidential election outcomes, heightening tensions.

Venezuela's capital Caracas and much of the rest of the country were plunged into darkness early on Friday, according to government sources who attributed the blackout to opposition sabotage without presenting evidence. President Nicolas Maduro, facing an ongoing dispute with the opposition over the July 28 presidential election results, frequently blames his political adversaries for attacks on the power grid.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced on state television that power would soon start returning, beginning with the capital. He reiterated claims of an attack on the electricity network. "It will begin arriving little by little nationally, with security protocols," Cabello stated.

All 24 states reported either total or partial power loss, said Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez, who also labeled the incident as electrical sabotage without providing proof. The opposition has consistently denied such accusations and did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In Caracas, the outage led to disruption in daily life, with office workers waiting for instructions, and businesses like bakeries struggling without electricity. Transport services were hampered, with subway operations replaced by buses. The blackout also affected some operations of state oil company PDVSA, further complicating the nation's economic woes.

The blackout comes amid heightened political tensions, with both the government and opposition claiming victory in last month's disputed election. Amid rising arrests of opposition figures, former candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and leader Maria Corina Machado face investigations. Venezuela has experienced similar national blackouts in the past, often blamed on sabotage, as the country grapples with economic decline under Maduro's leadership.

(With inputs from agencies.)