Explosions Heard in Caracas Amid US-Venezuela Tensions
At least seven explosions were heard in Caracas around 2am local time (6am GMT) on 3 January 2026. Residents reported loud blasts and low-flying aircraft, with smoke observed rising near La Carlota airport. A witness also reported a power outage in the southern part of the city.
The cause of the explosions was not immediately clear, and the Venezuelan government had not commented at the time. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela, with US forces conducting strikes on vessels accused of drug trafficking in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. These actions include a recent US military strike on five alleged drug-trafficking boats on New Year's Eve, sanctions, a ramped-up military presence in the region, and discussions of potential land operations aimed at pressuring President Nicolas Maduro to leave office.
Maduro, in a New Year’s Eve interview taped on the same day as the US strike, expressed willingness to cooperate with the US on tackling drug trafficking and called for serious talks supported by data. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the explosions or related military actions.
Information in this report is based on coverage from Sky News and witnesses cited by Reuters.
