A light map of Venezuela on the night of 7 March 2019 and the night of 8 March 2019.[a]
Nationwide recurring electrical blackouts in Venezuela began in March 2019. Experts and state-run Corpoelec (Corporación Eléctrica Nacional) sources attribute the electricity shortages to lack of maintenance and to a lack of technical expertise in the country resulting from a brain drain.[3][4][5]Nicolás Maduro's administration attributes them to sabotage.[6][7][8] Since March, various nationwide blackouts occurred in the country.[9]
The first widespread blackout began on 7 March 2019 at 4:56 pm local time (GMT-4);[10] it lasted through 14 March, when power was restored to much of the country.[11][12] It was the largest power outage in the country's history,[13] and affected the electricity sector in Venezuela in most of its 23 states,[10][14] as well as Roraima border state of Brazil,[15][16] causing serious problems in hospitals and clinics, industry, transport and in water service.[17] At least 43 deaths resulted.[18] On 12 March, power returned to some parts of the country, but Caracas remained only partially powered and western regions near the border with Colombia remained dark.[19] Power outages persisted in some areas for many days after 14 March.[20]
Between 14 and 16 of Venezuela's 23 states were again without power from 25 March[21] to 28 March;[22] at least four people died as a result of the three-day lack of power.[23] Another blackout started in the evening of 29 March,[24] followed by another 24 hours later.[25] During the month of March, Venezuela was without power for at least 10 days overall.[26]
The ongoing power outages have worsened the crisis in Venezuela and "suffering, cutting off water supplies and leaving hospitals and airports in the dark".[27] On 31 March, Maduro announced a 30-day plan to ration power.[28] Another major national blackout occurred on 22 July.[29]
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