Early on Saturday morning, residents across Caracas, Venezuela, were jolted awake by a series of loud explosions and aircraft noise that echoed through the city around 2:00 am local time. Neighbourhoods reported at least seven distinct blasts, while sounds resembling low-flying aircraft were heard overhead.
Videos and eyewitness accounts showed smoke rising in the distance and people rushing into the streets in alarm. Several areas in Southern Caracas, including zones near a major military base, experienced power outages shortly after the disturbances.
BREAKING — CARACAS UNDER FIRE
Just in: Night-vision footage shows a lone U.S. Apache helicopter turning Venezuela’s most important military base — Fuerte Tiuna — into a fireball at 2 a.m. local. Multiple direct rocket impacts confirmed. The capital is wide awake. pic.twitter.com/4WH7bli4SL— Vikramaditya (@VikramtheGreat1) January 3, 2026
Venezuela Explosion: What Happened in Caracas Early Saturday?
Witnesses described hearing detonations and aircraft overhead in multiple parts of the capital. Smoke columns were seen rising near military installations such as La Carlota Air Base, and blackout reports came from the southern sector of the city, heightening concern among residents. Some shared footage on social media of flashes and flashes illuminating the night sky before power was cut.
At least seven explosions were reported, though official confirmation of what caused them has not yet been released. Both the Venezuelan government and US authorities have so far stayed silent on the exact source of the blasts.
Venezuela Explosion: Was It a US Military Strike?
The events occurred amid a backdrop of increasing tension between Venezuela and the United States. In recent weeks, the US military has been active in the Caribbean and Pacific regions, targeting vessels that Washington claims are used for drug smuggling. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly hinted that American forces might soon expand operations, including “ground strikes” on Venezuelan territory, in an effort to press President Nicolás Maduro to step down.
Some media outlets and social media users speculated that the explosions could signal a first land attack on Venezuelan soil. Trump himself confirmed earlier that US forces had struck a docking area used by alleged drug smugglers, though he did not specify who carried out the operation or where it occurred.
However, there is no independent verification yet tying these explosions directly to a US military strike, and US and Venezuelan officials have not offered details explaining the events.
Venezuela Explosion: Tensions Between the US & Caracas
Relations between the US and Venezuela have been sharply strained. The Trump administration accuses Maduro of leading a corrupt regime and has ramped up pressure through sanctions, military deployments, and strikes on suspected drug smuggling operations. Venezuela denies involvement in drug trafficking and accuses the US of seeking to instigate regime change, partly to secure control over the country’s vast oil reserves.
Maduro has also shown cautious willingness to negotiate with Washington on counter-narcotics efforts. Despite this, the current uncertainty over the Caracas blasts adds a volatile element to an already tense situation.
Public Reaction and Fear in the Streets
Residents across Caracas reacted with fear and confusion as the explosions echoed through the capital. Many rushed outdoors, unsure of what had happened. The sudden blackout in the southern districts compounded the unease.
Some shared videos and accounts online describing helicopters or aircraft overhead shortly before the blasts, though such reports remain unverified. With neither government clarifying the cause, speculation continues, and anxiety persists among locals about the possibility of further escalation.
