US bombs Venezuela

Several explosions rocked Caracas early Saturday, with a CNN team reporting that parts of the Venezuelan capital have been cut off from the electricity grid.

The first blast was recorded at about 1.50am local time, according to the network.

“One was so strong, my window was shaking after it,” Osmary Hernandez, a CNN correspondent, said.

Several neighbourhoods lost power and aircraft could be heard flying after the explosions.

The cause of the explosions was not immediately clear.

A video obtained and verified by CNN showed two plumes of smoke billowing into the night sky amid flickering city lights, with an orange glow visible at the base of one plume before a flash and a dull booming sound were heard elsewhere.

Venezuelan news outlets Efecto Cocuyo and Tal Cual Digital reported that explosions were also heard in La Guaira state, north of Caracas, along the country’s coast, and in Higuerote, a coastal city in Miranda state.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States is preparing to take new action against alleged drug trafficking networks in Venezuela, saying strikes on land would start soon.

In October, Trump said he had authorised the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to operate inside Venezuela to curb illegal flow of migrants and drugs from the South American country.