Venezuela blames major power cut on US senator Marco Rubio Marco Rubio laughs off the claims and says he must have "pressed the wrong thing on the 'electronic attack' app". Friday 8 March 2019 21:45, UK
Power has begun to be restored to parts of the Venezuelan capital Caracas after a major nationwide power outage which the government blamed on "sabotage" orchestrated by a US senator.
Fifteen of 23 states were affected by the early morning blackout, according to local media and posts on Twitter, including Caracas.
Traffic lights stopped working and thousands of commuters flooded on to the streets when the subway stopped and some had to walk several hours to get home.
Unverified reports on state broadcaster VTV at around 2pm local time (6pm GMT) said electricity had been restored to 16 neighbourhoods in the capital.
People began reporting on social media they had power back and streetlights could be seen working.
"They've attacked the generation and transmission at the Guri (hydroelectric dam), the backbone of the electricity system," said electricity minister Luis Motta on state TV earlier.
Communications minister Jorge Rodriguez blamed extremists taking orders from Florida senator Marco Rubio, who mocked the idea, tweeting he had "pressed the wrong thing on the 'electronic attack' app I downloaded from Apple".
"A little bit of patience," the communications minister urged. "If you're in your home, stay in your home. If you're in a protected space or at work, it's better for you to stay there."
Some people opened their windows and banged pots and pans in the darkness in a sign of frustration at President Maduro.
Power cuts are common in Venezuela, where many people blame the president for the country's crippling hyperinflation and shortages of food and medicine.
Critics say the electricity network in the country has fallen into ruin because of years of under investment and mismanagement.
Opposition figurehead Juan Guaido used the opportunity to turn the screw on President Maduro, who he has been trying to force from power.
He tweeted: "How do you tell a mom who needs to cook, an ill person who depends on a machine, a worker who should be laboring that we are in a powerful country without electricity?"
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the power cut was caused by President Maduro's "incompetence".
"The power outage and the devastation hurting ordinary Venezuelans is not because of the USA. It's not because of Colombia. It's not Ecuador or Brazil, Europe or anywhere else.
"Power shortages and starvation are the result of the Maduro regime's incompetence," Mr Pompeo tweeted.
Juan Guaido has large support in Venezuela and has been backed by most Western powers, but has so far been unable to get Mr Maduro to stand down.
Crucially, the president still has the support of the military.
Some Venezuelans also still back him, believing he is protecting the country from a US plot to gain influence and access to its vast oil reserves.
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