Still No Electricity In Major Parts Of Venezuela

Reuters: Venezuelan blackout hits oil exports, residents scramble for food

CARACAS/SAN CRISTOBAL, Venezuela (Reuters) - Much of Venezuela, including parts of the capital Caracas, remained without power on Monday for a fifth day, crimping vital oil exports and leaving people struggling to obtain water and food.

President Nicolas Maduro, who has blamed the unprecedented blackout on sabotage by the United States at Venezuela’s Guri hydroelectric dam, ordered the suspension of classes and the working day, as he had on Friday.

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WNU Editor: Venezuela's crude exports and the only source of income for the Venezuelan government has come to a stop .... Venezuela blackout halts most oil exports, hits crude upgrading: sources (Reuters).

Update: More details are emerging on what caused this blackout. According to the Independent, the San Geronimo B substation in the centre of the country, which supplies electricity to 4 out of 5 Venezuelans from the massive Guri hydropower plant, went down .... Venezuela plunged into darkness for fourth consecutive day as country teeters on brink (The Independent). The report from the Independent is also quoting un-named sources that electrical workers have been told to NOT report to work. If true, it tells me that the problem must involve a major piece of equipment and/or a network of critical components that needs to be replaced, and they do not have the parts to do so.

More News On The Crisis In Venezuela

Venezuela in crisis: All the latest updates -- Al Jazeera
Venezuela power cut: Lootings as desperation grows -- BBC
Power station blast adds to sense of chaos in Venezuela -- AP
Venezuela blackout has killed 21 people, opposition leaders say -- The Guardian
Venezuelan blackout victims 'murdered' by government, opposition leader says -- CNN
Residential areas of Caracas once again hit by power outage -- TASS
Doctors pray for sick as blackout batters Venezuelan hospitals -- Reuters
Race against time in blackout-hit Venezuela to save food stocks -- AFP
No End in Sight to Venezuela’s Blackout, Experts Warn -- The New York Times