US President Donald Trump has claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been "captured" and "flown out" of the country following large-scale strikes in Caracas early Saturday. Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that the operation was carried out in conjunction with US law enforcement and that further details would be provided at a news conference at Mar-a-Lago.
Several large explosions were heard in the Venezuelan capital around 2:00 a.m. local time, triggering panic across the city. Reports indicated at least seven blasts, with smoke rising from multiple locations and brief power outages recorded in some areas, including a military base. Partial disruptions to telecommunications were also reported.
The Venezuelan government condemned the attacks, calling them an "extremely serious military aggression" aimed at seizing the country's strategic resources, particularly oil and minerals, and undermining national sovereignty. President Maduro has declared a national emergency in response to the explosions.
The US Embassy in Bogota, which manages Venezuelan affairs, issued a Level 4 Travel Advisory, urging all US citizens in Venezuela to depart immediately and warning against travel to the country due to severe risks, including civil unrest, arbitrary enforcement of laws, and poor health infrastructure. The embassy noted that it has no capacity to provide emergency services in Venezuela, as all consular operations in Caracas remain suspended since March 2019.
Firefighters Injured in Major Colorado Construction Site Blaze
Meanwhile, in Denver, Colorado, a five-alarm fire broke out at an apartment construction site on Friday evening, injuring at least one firefighter. The 283-unit development, still under construction, lacked fire containment systems such as sprinklers, drywall, or insulation, allowing flames to spread rapidly.
The Denver Fire Department deployed over 100 firefighters, 41 ambulances, and 13 helicopters to contain the blaze, with operations focusing on containment and exposure protection. An evacuation order was issued for two city blocks, and crews remained on site overnight to fully suppress remaining hot spots. The fire's severity was classified as "five-alarm," indicating a catastrophic event requiring extensive resources.
Footage showed firefighters using ladder trucks to douse large flames while thick smoke and bright red fire illuminated the surrounding area, visible from kilometers away.
(With inputs from IANS)
