Venezuelan officials are blaming an “electromagnetic attack” for a power outage that swept through the country.
Venezuelans suffered a wide-ranging power outage on Monday around 4 p.m. The blackout crippled communications and wrought havoc on the country’s transportation systems. Schools and most businesses and government offices suspended work on Tuesday.
The Venezuelan government announced that the power failure stemmed from an attack on the country’s hydroelectric system. Critics placed blame on the government, led by President Nicolás Maduro, for years of mismanagement.
Earlier this year, Maduro refused to step down after winning what many nations, including the United States and Brazil, said was a sham election. Venezuelan National Assembly President Juan Guaidó led thousands of Venezuelans in protest of Maduro’s regime, but the dictator remained in power with support from countries such as Russia and Cuba.
“They tried to hide the tragedy with rations throughout the country, but the failure is evident: they destroyed the electrical system and have no answers,” Guaidó tweeted after the blackout. “Venezuelans will not get used to this disaster.”
Intentaron esconder la tragedia con racionamientos en todo el país, pero el fracaso es evidente: destruyeron el sistema eléctrico y no tienen respuestas.
Mañana, con fuerza, vamos a la asamblea en la calle. Los venezolanos no nos acostumbraremos a este desastre. #ApagónNacional
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) July 22, 2019
The rebel leader also called for Venezuelans to march in the capital of Caracas on Tuesday in protest of the Maduro regime.
