In the early hours of Saturday, January 3, 2026, residents of Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, were jolted awake by at least seven powerful explosions.
Kabul 24: Witnesses reported hearing low-flying aircraft and seeing thick plumes of smoke rising from near the La Carlota military airbase and other key sites, including areas close to Fuerte Tiuna, the main military headquarters.
Power outages struck southern parts of the city, plunging neighborhoods into darkness and sparking panic as people rushed into the streets.
Major international outlets, including Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, The New York Times, and Al Jazeera, confirmed the blasts based on eyewitness accounts and videos circulating on social media.
Smoke was visible from the La Carlota airport, a significant military installation in eastern Caracas. No official cause has been determined, and neither the Venezuelan government nor US authorities have commented directly on the incident.The explosions come amid heightened friction between Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the Trump administration.
The US has accused Maduro of leading a “narco-terrorist” state and intensified pressure through sanctions, a naval blockade of oil tankers, and over 35 strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific—resulting in more than 115 deaths. Recently, reports emerged of a CIA drone strike on a coastal dock facility linked to drug trafficking, marking the first known US operation on Venezuelan soil.
Maduro, in a recent interview, expressed openness to negotiations with the US on combating drug trafficking while accusing Washington of seeking regime change to access Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
Speculation abounds: some link the blasts to potential US airstrikes, while others suggest internal sabotage or military unrest.Claims circulating on social media and fringe sites alleging Maduro’s overthrow or fall remain unverified and appear to be misinformation—no credible source, including Reuters or AP, supports such reports.
Maduro remains in power, and the situation is fluid.As investigations continue, the people of Caracas grapple with fear and uncertainty.
This event could mark a dangerous escalation in US-Venezuela relations, with potential ripple effects across Latin America. The world watches closely for official statements and clarity on what triggered the night’s chaos.
