UPDATE - Blackout Continuing For Over 2 Days In Major Part Of Caracas - Police Source

UPDATE - Blackout Continuing for Over 2 Days in Major Part of Caracas - Police Source

CARACAS/BUENOS AIRES (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th March, 2019) The overwhelming majority of districts in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas have been left without electricity for the second day, and there are no prerequisites for the situation to normalize, a source in the city police told Sputnik on Saturday.

"Almost the entire city, with the exception of a few blocks, remains without electricity. In some parts of the capital, there is no light for almost 40 hours. It is not clear when the situation returns to normal. As of now, there are no prerequisites for improving the situation," the source said.

The blackout swept Venezuela on Thursday as national electricity supplier Corpoelec reported about a "sabotage" at the major Guri hydroelectric power plant. Media subsequently reported about power outages in 21 out or 23 Venezuela's states. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro blamed the United States for waging an electric energy war against Venezuela, however, Washington denied having a role in the crisis.

According to Sputnik correspondent, the metro is still not working, there are also serious problems with mobile communications and the internet due to a blackout in Caracas. Entire terminals of Simon Bolivar International Airport remain without electricity. Due to non-working computers, check-in of passengers for flights, as well as immigration controls, are carried out manually. Baggage claim does not work either, so tourists from other countries have to wait for many hours to receive their baggage.

On Friday evening, the city was in heavy fog, and in the absence of electricity, visibility on the streets of Caracas did not exceed several dozens of meters.

New power outrages continue in different states of Venezuela, including those where electricity supply had been previously resumed, Nacional newspaper reported, citing local citizens.

The states of Vargas, Tachira, Zulia, Lara and Carabobo, among others, still have no electricity.