Venezuela: Nationwide power outages reported April 10 /update 5

Event

Significant power outages are being reported across Venezuela as of the early morning hours (local time) on Wednesday, April 10. According to network monitoring organizations, almost all states are being severely impacted as of 00:45. Telecommunication and internet services are also reportedly down for most of the country and associated transportation and commercial disruptions are expected nationwide, including in Caracas.

Civil unrest, including protests, cannot be ruled out over the coming hours and days. A heightened security presence and transportation disruptions are to be expected near demonstration sites.

Context

President Nicolás Maduro announced a plan for 30 days of electricity rationing on Sunday, March 31, following recent power outages in Venezuela that have caused disruptions to transportation, water distribution systems, and telecommunications services. The government has claimed outages have been caused by acts of "sabotage" carried out by the US; however, previous outages that had been blamed on attacks were later attributed to infrastructural deficiencies.

Venezuela is experiencing an ongoing crisis spurred by President Nicolás Maduro's inauguration to a second term as president on January 10 following last year's contested election, prompting the National Assembly to declare a national emergency. At least 50 foreign governments, including the US, Canada, and Brazil, among others, have since recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the interim head of state.

Advice

Individuals in Venezuela are advised to monitor developments to the situation, adhere to instructions issued by their home governments, keep battery-operated devices fully charged whenever possible, remain vigilant for criminal behavior and avoid conspicuous displays of wealth, refrain from discussing political topics in public or on social media, and avoid all public demonstrations due to the risk of violence and arrest. In addition, individuals are advised to be cautious when driving or crossing streets if traffic signals are not functional.

The security situation in Venezuela remains complex. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.