A new blackout across large parts of crisis-hit Venezuela, including the capital Caracas, forced many to spend another night in the dark on Tuesday.
The electricity shortage — the biggest in a week — hit a large section of the capital, with social media posts from residents across the country suggesting significant areas in at least 20 of the 23 states of Venezuela were also affected.
An hour after the lights went out, some areas of the capital regained power.
The company set up to confront the crisis “is working to reestablish the service”, said state TV channel VTV.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido — who claimed himself as the country’s “interim president” — had previously called for protests against public service failures to be held Wednesday.
Power cuts have occurred sporadically since the massive blackout of March 7 left the country in the dark for five days, with electricity being rationed outside of Caracas.
Water supplies have also been interrupted, along with transport and communications, forcing many people to trim their work days to six hours.
The government of President Nicolas Maduro has blamed US-backed sabotage for the massive blackouts that have deprived millions of power, blaming “electromagnetic, cyber and physical” attacks against the Guri hydroelectric power plant, which produces 80 percent of the country’s energy.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, Maduro said the country was ready to receive international aid following a meeting in Caracas with the global Red Cross chief.
“We confirm our readiness to establish cooperation mechanisms for international assistance and support,” Maduro wrote on Twitter.
The president reiterated after the meeting that collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) should respect “the Venezuelan legal order.”
An ICRC delegation led by its president Peter Maurer has been in the South American country since Saturday and is due to finish its visit on Wednesday.
The ICRC said last Friday in a statement it was “concerned by the serious impact that the current situation has on Venezuelans, especially those who do not have access to basic services.”
Source: Agencies
