Venezuela: Metro service restored in Caracas while power remains unassured in other areas July 24 /update 2

Event

Metro service in Caracas was restored on lines 1, 2, and 3 as of Wednesday, July 24, after a power outage hit the country on Monday, July 22. Cable car and metro cable services were also restored.

Other areas, such as cities and municipalities in the state of Zulia, had their power restored on Tuesday, July 23, remained unstable, and later lost it once again in the late hours of Tuesday and early hours of Wednesday, July 24. Temperatures as high as 40°C (104° F) are common to the area, exacerbating the lack of power. Contingency plans were implemented, including in the state's hospitals. Caution is advised in these areas until power is restored due to the risk of increased violence and looting.

Context

Recurrent power outages have affected Venezuela since late March, which have caused disruptions to transportation, water distribution systems, and telecommunications services, notably in the capital Caracas. The government had previously claimed outages were 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.