In the early hours of Saturday, January 3, 2026, multiple powerful explosions shook the Venezuelan capital Caracas, followed by the sight and sound of military aircraft flying at low altitude, prompting fear and confusion among residents across the city. Witnesses reported that the first blasts were heard at around 2:00 a.m. local time, echoing through neighbourhoods such as El Valle, Los Chaguaramos, El Paraíso and Coche, while columns of smoke were seen rising near major military installations, including Fuerte Tiuna and the La Carlota air base.
Videos circulating on social media, which have been widely shared though not independently verified, showed bright flashes and plumes of black smoke in the sky, and residents described windows shaking from the force of the blasts. Large areas of the city, particularly in the south near strategic sites, were reported to have experienced power outages shortly after the explosions.
The Venezuelan government, led by President Nicolás Maduro, issued a statement denouncing the incidents as a “gravísima agresión militar” allegedly carried out by the United States, claiming that both civilian and military installations had been targeted not only in Caracas but also in surrounding states such as Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira. Authorities declared a state of emergency, mobilised defence forces and called on the international community to condemn the events, saying the actions violated Venezuelan sovereignty and international law.
The government’s official narrative frames the explosions and aircraft activity as part of an escalated confrontation with Washington amid long‑standing diplomatic tensions, which have included accusations by U.S. officials that Maduro’s leadership is associated with drug trafficking and regional destabilisation — claims Caracas rejects.
Residents who spoke with journalists said the sound of explosions sent people rushing into the streets in the middle of the night as alarms blared and confusion spread. Some reported that explosions were powerful enough to be felt in neighbourhoods throughout the greater Caracas metropolitan area.
So far there has been no independent confirmation of casualties or the exact cause of the blasts. Both the United States government and Venezuela’s Ministry of Defence have remained largely tight‑lipped in formal public statements. U.S. authorities have not immediately commented on allegations of involvement in an attack inside Venezuelan territory, and requests for official clarification are ongoing.
The situation remains rapidly evolving, with authorities in Caracas urging calm while continuing to assess the extent of the damage to infrastructure and civilian areas. The international community is watching closely as tensions between the two nations escalate amid these dramatic developments.
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