The Venezuelan government blamed the United States administration led by President Donald Trump for the massive explosions that rocked the capital, Caracas, in the early hours of Saturday, following which a national emergency was declared.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York following US airstrikes in Caracas.
Maduro faces charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons against the United States, Bondi said.

Venezuela-US conflict LIVE: US indicts Maduro and wife on multiple charges in New York, says US Attorney General

Amid President Donald Trump’s crackdown on drug cartels, tensions between Venezuela and the US appeared to escalate after the Venezuelan government blamed Washington for a series of powerful explosions that rocked the capital, Caracas, in the early hours of Saturday.

While official confirmation that the explosions were caused by US airstrikes was still awaited, a CBS reporter said on X that President Trump had ordered strikes on targets inside Venezuela, including military facilities.

Venezuela explosions | Key points

Multiple explosions and what were described as sounds of low-flying aircraft were heard early Saturday in Caracas and several other areas.

Loud blasts accompanied by noises resembling aircraft flyovers were reported around 2 am (0600 GMT) in the capital, AFP reported, citing its journalist.

Unverified visuals circulated on social media, purportedly showing the moment explosions struck Caracas. One video claimed to show large blasts at Higuerote Airport, about 87 km east of the capital.

According to a statement by the Venezuelan government, the attacks occurred in Caracas as well as in the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.

Following the incidents, President Nicolas Maduro declared a national emergency and called on social and political forces to “activate mobilisation plans.”