Explosions heard in Venezuela’s Caracas. Is the US behind the blasts? What does Maduro say?

In the wee hours of Saturday, loud explosions and sounds that resembled aircraft were heard in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, putting the country and its neighbours on high alert.

The Associated Press reported that at least seven explosions had taken place, and low-flying aircraft could be heard around the Venezuelan capital. However, it is not immediately clear what was behind the explosions.

The explosions come at a time when the US military has been targeting Venezuela. In fact, earlier on Friday, Caracas said it was open to negotiating an agreement with the United States to combat drug trafficking.

What do we know of the explosions?

1. On Saturday morning, around 2 am local time, explosions could be heard from different parts of Caracas.

2. As per eyewitnesses, smoke could be seen pouring from two key military installations in Caracas: the La Carlota military airfield at the heart of the city and the Fuerte Tiuna military base, where Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro, has long been thought to live.

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3. A 21-year-old Carmen Hidalgo was quoted as telling the Associated Press, “The whole ground shook. This is horrible. We heard explosions and planes in the distance.” Another eyewitness, a journalist, told CNN, “One was so strong, my window was shaking after it.”

4. A video obtained by CNN shows two plumes of smoke rising in the night sky; an orange glow can be seen at the base of one of the plumes. Then a flash in another location is seen, followed by a dull booming sound.

5. Some parts of Caracas were plunged into darkness as a result of the blasts.

6. Shortly after the explosions were first reported, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a strong critic of the Trump administration, posted on X: “Right now they are bombing Caracas … bombing it with missiles,” calling for an immediate emergency session of the UN Security Council.

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7. Officials from the Trump administration said they were aware of the blasts. However, the Pentagon spokesman referred questions about it to the White House.

8. President Trump ordered strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities, CBS News has reported. However, there’s no other confirmation.

9. Following the blasts, the Venezuelan government issued an official statement, blaming Washington for it. “Venezuela rejects, condemns and denounces the serious military aggression perpetrated by the current Government of the United States of America.”

10. The statement further urged its supporters to take to the streets. “People to the streets!” the statement said. “The Bolivarian Government calls on all social and political forces in the country to activate mobilisation plans and repudiate this imperialist attack.”

11. Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has also “ordered all national defence plans to be implemented” and declared “a state of external disturbance.”

12. Notably, the explosions come at a time when US President Donald Trump has promised land operations in Venezuela. The US leader last month announced a blockade of all sanctioned vessels going in or out of Venezuelan waters as part of a strategy to pressure Maduro.

13. The latest coming in after the blasts is that the American Federal Aviation Administration has barred its commercial planes from flying over the South American nation for the next 23 hours, citing safety risks “associated with military activity”.

With inputs from agencies