2019 Venezuelan blackouts

A light map of Venezuela on the night of 7 March 2019 and the night of 8 March 2019.[a]

Nationwide recurring electrical blackouts in Venezuela began in March 2019. Experts and state-run Corpoelec (Corporación Eléctrica Nacional) sources attribute the electricity shortages to lack of maintenance and to a lack of technical expertise in the country resulting from a brain drain.[3][4][5] Nicolás Maduro's administration attributes them to sabotage.[6][7][8] Since March, various nationwide blackouts occurred in the country.[9]

The first widespread blackout began on 7 March 2019 at 4:56 pm local time (GMT-4);[10] it lasted through 14 March, when power was restored to much of the country.[11][12] It was the largest power outage in the country's history,[13] and affected the electricity sector in Venezuela in most of its 23 states,[10][14] as well as Roraima border state of Brazil,[15][16] causing serious problems in hospitals and clinics, industry, transport and in water service.[17] At least 43 deaths resulted.[18] On 12 March, power returned to some parts of the country, but Caracas remained only partially powered and western regions near the border with Colombia remained dark.[19] Power outages persisted in some areas for many days after 14 March.[20]

Between 14 and 16 of Venezuela's 23 states were again without power from 25 March[21] to 28 March;[22] at least four people died as a result of the three-day lack of power.[23] Another blackout started in the evening of 29 March,[24] followed by another 24 hours later.[25] During the month of March, Venezuela was without power for at least 10 days overall.[26]

The ongoing power outages have worsened the crisis in Venezuela and "suffering, cutting off water supplies and leaving hospitals and airports in the dark".[27] On 31 March, Maduro announced a 30-day plan to ration power.[28] Another major national blackout occurred on 22 July.[29]

  1. ^ Nunez, Christina (13 January 2016). "The world is hemorrhaging methane, and now we can see where". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  2. ^ Kurmanaev, Anatoly (23 October 2016). "Venezuelan oil is largely staying in ground or going up in smoke; The country's vast oil potential isn't being realized for lack of equipment, commitment and capital". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Expediente was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Falla was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference NoEnd was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference FreshPower was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Thousands join rival protests on streets of Venezuela as power cuts continue". MSN. 10 March 2019. Archived from the original on 18 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Conformarán una comisión presidencial para investigar el ciberataque y mostrar la verdad". Prensa MPP (in Spanish). 12 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  9. ^ Angulo, Nataly. "Los cuatro apagones que oscurecen a Venezuela" (in Spanish). El Pitazo. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  10. ^ a b Rodríguez Rosas, Ronny (9 March 2019). "A Motta Domínguez se le cumplió el plazo y no cumplió" [Motta Domínguez's deadline was met and he did not comply]. Efecto Cocuyo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 13 March 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  11. ^ "Venezuela: power returns after blackout but normal service may be a long way off". The Guardian. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Four dead, hundreds detained after Venezuela blackout: rights groups". Reuters. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dube was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cause was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Foggin, Sophie (26 March 2019). "Why Venezuela's power outage is also a Brazilian problem". Latin America Reports. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  16. ^ "Blackout darkens much of Venezuela in latest taste of economic woes". Buenos Aires Times. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  17. ^ "En el tercer día de apagón en Venezuela, reportan que murieron 17 pacientes por falta de diálisis" [On the third day of the blackout in Venezuela, it is reported that 17 patients died due to lack of dialysis]. Infobae (in Spanish). 9 March 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference 43dead was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ "Venezuela, blaming U.S. for six-day blackout, orders diplomats to leave". Reuters. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  20. ^ "Servicio eléctrico sigue sin restituirse totalmente tras el apagón nacional". El Nacional (in Spanish). 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  21. ^ Phillips, Tom (25 March 2019). "'No more hope': fresh blackout leaves half of Venezuela without power". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  22. ^ Sequera, Vivian; Cohen, Luc (29 March 2019). "Venezuela blocks Guaido from office as the opposition scoffs". Reuters. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  23. ^ Cite error: The named reference CuatroMuertos was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  24. ^ Cite error: The named reference NewRound was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  25. ^ Cite error: The named reference NewBlackout was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. ^ "Venezuela sufre el tercer apagón en solo tres semanas". Telemundo 51 (in Spanish). 29 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  27. ^ Pons, Corina and Brian Ellsworth (29 March 2019). "International Red Cross ready for Venezuela humanitarian aid operation". Reuters. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  28. ^ Cite error: The named reference RationYahoo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  29. ^ Sánchez, Fabiola; Goodman, Joshua (23 July 2019). "Much of Venezuela in the dark again after massive blackout". Associated Press. Retrieved 23 July 2019.


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