Venezuela Plunged into Darkness: Millions Affected by Nationwide Blackout

A massive power outage has plunged millions of Venezuelans into darkness across 21 of the country’s 24 regions, including the capital, Caracas. The blackout, which began at 4:50 AM local time (9:50 AM GMT) on Friday, has affected telecommunications and internet services in 81% of the country. The outage has caused widespread disruptions, with residents struggling to access basic services like water and communication. Reports indicate that hospitals and clinics have been forced to rely on generators, while pharmacies have limited their services to cash transactions due to payment system failures. Many Venezuelans have taken to the streets to find working cell phone signal, with traffic jams forming as people attempt to connect with loved ones. The situation has highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the Venezuelan people, who have been grappling with economic hardship and chronic power shortages in recent years.