Maduro’s last video? Venezuela President appears on camera just hours before back-to-back blasts

A series of powerful explosions rocked Venezuela’s capital Caracas in the early hours of Saturday, January 3, after months of escalating tensions between Caracas and Washington. Reuters witnesses reported loud blasts, columns of smoke and low-flying aircraft around 2 a.m., with parts of southern Caracas near a major military base plunged into darkness due to a power outage. Videos showed flashes lighting up the night sky as residents rushed into the streets in several neighbourhoods. The incidents came days after President Nicolás Maduro publicly spoke about relations with U.S. President Donald Trump, reiterating Venezuela’s openness to U.S. investment, cooperation on drug trafficking and dialogue, while rejecting what he described as interventionist policies. Washington has recently increased pressure on Maduro through sanctions, military deployments in the region and strikes on vessels accused of drug trafficking. Neither the Venezuelan government nor the Pentagon immediately commented on the explosions.