Venezuela plunged into a state of profound uncertainty and fear on Saturday as residents awoke to a capital under military lockdown, plumes of dark smoke, and the stunning news that President Nicolas Maduro had been captured by United States forces. The dramatic overnight operation, ordered by US President Donald Trump, has left the nation grappling with a single, urgent question: who is in charge now?
Capital Under Siege: Explosions and Lockdown
In the hours following loud explosions that rattled Caracas, security forces patrolled near-empty avenues. Key areas, especially around the Miraflores presidential palace, were sealed off with armed checkpoints. Most citizens chose to remain indoors, anxiously glued to their phones and television screens for updates on the fast-unfolding crisis.
Nancy Perez, a 74-year-old resident, summed up the national mood to Reuters: "We don't know what's coming next. I saw it first on social media, then on television. Now everyone is just waiting." The visual evidence of turmoil was unmistakable. Dark smoke continued to rise from the direction of the Port of La Guaira, north of Caracas, which CBS News reported was severely damaged. Another plume was visible near a major air base in the capital.
Panic and Preparation Amidst Uncertainty
While videos circulated showing explosions lighting up the night sky, followed by sustained blasts, the streets remained eerily quiet. This silence, however, belied a undercurrent of panic. Long lines formed at grocery stores as people rushed to stock up on food and essential supplies. Adding to the anxiety, fuel stations were shut across several cities, raising fears of a prolonged disruption to normal life.
The fear of lawlessness was palpable. Jairo Chacin, a 39-year-old mechanic in the oil hub of Maracaibo, told Reuters he went to check on his workshop, afraid of potential looting. "But the streets were empty," he said. For opposition supporters, the news brought a complex mix of cautious optimism and deep anxiety. Chacin revealed that his sister, living in the United States, called him in tears when the news broke. "We cried together out of happiness," he admitted, "but nobody knows what happens now."
Trump Confirms Capture, Justifies Unprecedented Move
The operation was confirmed by US President Donald Trump, who has long accused the Venezuelan leader of drug trafficking and illegitimately clinging to power. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement."
This military action marks the first US intervention aimed at removing a foreign leader since the 1989 invasion of Panama, setting a significant geopolitical precedent. The immediate aftermath has left Venezuela in a tense vacuum, with its political future hanging in the balance and its citizens bracing for what comes next in this sudden and violent chapter of their nation's history.
