On July 22nd, most states in Venezuela suffered a blackout after an alleged “electromagnetic attack” on the country’s power grid....
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On July 22nd, most states in Venezuela suffered a blackout after an alleged “electromagnetic attack” on the country’s power grid.
This was announced by both Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez.
Ante el nuevo ataque criminal contra la tranquilidad y la Paz de la Patria, el Gobierno Bolivariano y la #FANB se encuentran desplegados atendiendo las necesidades del pueblo. Los hijos e hijas de Bolívar demostraremos una vez más nuestra voluntad inquebrantable. ¡Venceremos! pic.twitter.com/M6SYC0VIEA
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) July 23, 2019
“Faced with the new criminal attack on the tranquility and peace of the motherland, the Bolivarian Government and National Bolivarian Armed Forces are deployed to meet the needs of the people. The sons and daughters of Bolivar will once again demonstrate our unwavering will.”
Atención!! El Gobierno Bolivariano se dirige al Pueblo de Venezuela pic.twitter.com/VYPYsPBW11
— Jorge Rodríguez (@jorgerpsuv) July 22, 2019
The statement is the following:
“The Bolivarian Government of Venezuela informs all the people that today, at 4 and 45 in the afternoon, a national event of interruption of the electricity supply was presented. The first indications received from the investigation in Lower Caroni indicate the existence of an electromagnetic attack that sought to affect the hydroelectric generation system of Guayana, the main provider of this service in the country.
Fortunately, and after the focused aggressions during the months of March and April of this year, the Bolivarian Government has implemented protection and security protocols that allow us to ensure that we are already in the reconnection process to restore the electric power service in the shortest possible time.
At the same time, we have activated, through the Electric General Staff, the CEO, and the corresponding ministries, the mechanisms to meet the contingencies in the supply of drinking water, the provision of transport services and the monitoring and approach of any situation in our health centers. We also inform that we have ordered the deployment of the competent security agencies to guarantee the peace and tranquility of the entire population. Those who have attacked the noble people of Venezuela in every possible way and in a systematic way will once again know about the temper and courage that, in the midst of the difficulties, we have shown as the daughters and sons of our Liberator Simón Bolívar. We will win”
The blackout includes Caracas. Social media users report that basic services have been affected. This includes the Caracas Metro, which has to shut down a number of lines. The new blackout comes mere months after an attack on the country’s power grid left most of the nation without power for several days.
Health officials informed that hospitals and health centers have optimally initiated safety protocols as well, to ensure patients are not affected. Caracas’ largest hospital, Domingo Luciani, is operating normally as it is working with an independent power plant that can last for more than 20 hours.
While other key areas of the country such as transportation, security, and sanitation have also activated contingency plans.
“With the coordinated effort of the Integral Transportation System, Metrobus, National Police, ministries, and private entities to put into action a contingency plan to ensure no one is left stranded and can safely reach home,” Minister of Transporation, Hipolito Abreu, stated.
US-Proclaimed Interim President Juan Guaido said that the blackout was the result of the “regime’s” corruption and mismanagement.
5to #ApagónNacional del año, 10 PM: 5 horas #SinLuz en toda Venezuela producto de la corrupción e incapacidad del régimen. Hemos advertido de la catástrofe humanitaria latente si el régimen sigue secuestrando el poder sin capacidad de ofrecer solución a emergencia que generaron
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) July 23, 2019
“5 hours of Blackout throughout Venezuela as a result of corruption and incapacity of the regime. We have warned of the latent humanitarian catastrophe if the regime continues to sequester power without the ability to offer an emergency solution”
It currently appears that the Venezuelan crisis is in a sort of vicious cycle, in which the same rhetoric and actions by the opposition are repeated, which makes it impossible to reach a settlement, regardless of how many times the government and opposition meet.
Interestingly, also on July 22nd, Venezuelan airspace was violated by US aircraft.
During a press conference, the Venezuelan vice-president explained that at 09:52 hours (local time), a new violation occurred on the part of the US aircraft model EP-3E ARIES II, a specialist plane used in intelligence, war and electronic espionage, in the airspace of the South American nation.
Rodríguez explained that the violation occurred when the aircraft did not communicate its flight plan when venturing into Venezuelan airspace, so the aviation of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces ( FANB ) proceeded to intercept and later eject the plane.
“By flying over the Flight Information Region (FIR) of Maiquetía, this in addition to spying produces a danger within the airspace of Venezuela,” he said.
Rodriguez also noted that since January of this year (2019), violations and incursions into Venezuelan airspace have increased by 167 percent, in addition to having detected at least 78 opportunities a violation of the Maiquetía FIR.
“These US planes that have entered illegally within Venezuelan airspace, have the ability to carry missiles, as well as high technology and extensive electronic capabilities,” said the Venezuelan sector vice president.
In response, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said that “the Venezuelan regime” had no right to undertake provocative actions against US Navy aircraft that is partaking in a routine mission.
The United States condemns the illegitimate Venezuelan regime’s provocative actions against our US Navy aircraft while on a routine mission. These unsafe & unprofessional actions are yet another example of dictator Nicolás Maduro’s willful violation of international norms & laws.
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) July 22, 2019
The protection of Venezuelan airspace was also called “aggressive posturing.”
Venezuelans want an end to the grave humanitarian crisis & the senseless arbitrary repression. Instead, Maduro seeks to engage in aggressive posturing against the US. We will support Venezuelans & our partners in the region as we all pursue a return to democracy in Venezuela.
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) July 22, 2019
It is interesting that on the same day an intelligence aircraft violated Venezuelan airspace, an alleged electromagnetic attack took place on the power grid.
The Maduro government hasn’t alleged that specifically that was the reason, since there probably isn’t any evidence.
So any such scenario falls in the realm of speculation.
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