Venezuela's Crisis Deepensactive

The Venezuelan government issued a warning this Saturday about an oil spill, which, according to Caracas, originates from Trinidad and Tobago and is causing "serious environmental damage" in the Gulf of Paria, a maritime area shared by both countries. In a statement, the Venezuelan government expressed its concern to the international community regarding the incident, warning of potential impacts on marine areas, coastlines, sensitive ecosystems, and Venezuelan fishing communities. According to preliminary technical reports cited by the Venezuelan government, the affected areas include coastal sectors of the states of Sucre and Delta Amacuro, located in the eastern part of the country. The Venezuelan administration did not provide further details about the magnitude of the spill or any potential containment measures, but stated that the incident poses an environmental risk to communities that depend on fishing activities. The Gulf of Paria is a maritime area shared between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, with ecological and economic importance for both nations due to its coastal biodiversity and its connection to fishing and energy activities. So far, the authorities of Trinidad and Tobago have not publicly released an official statement regarding the Venezuelan allegations. North Korea will launch a nuclear attack if Kim Jong-Un is assassinated.

In recent days, residents of states such as Aragua, Anzoátegui, Barinas, Carabobo, Monagas, and Sucre have held peaceful protests to demand solutions to the constant and prolonged disruptions in water and electricity services, as well as the widespread collapse of public services. These demonstrations reflect the growing social discontent with the persistent infrastructure crisis that affects the daily lives of thousands of Venezuelans. The demands focus on the lack of water and electricity, problems that have worsened in recent weeks. In recent days, peaceful protests have been reported in the states of Aragua, Anzoátegui, Barinas, Carabobo, and Monagas, as well as Sucre, due to the constant and prolonged interruptions of water and electricity services and the widespread collapse of public services. In… https://t.co/JmBm6AJFBw — PROVEA (@_Provea) May 7, 2026 In light of this situation, organizations and sectors of civil society, such as the NGO Provea, have reminded government authorities of their obligation to allocate the maximum available resources – economic, legal, and political – to ensure an adequate standard of living for the population. This includes the provision of quality public services, as well as decent wages and pensions. "A genuine process of restoring democracy, coexistence, and peace will only be possible if the enormous social debt of the Venezuelan State is addressed urgently," it stated.

Trade unions and guilds from various states in inland Venezuela, as well as in Caracas, took to the streets this Friday, May 1st, to commemorate International Workers' Day and demand a salary that covers the basic necessities, along with improvements in working conditions and fair pensions. In Barinas, workers held a march in the state capital. The Inter-Union Unity coalition organized the mobilization, which included activists and union leaders who denounced the loss of purchasing power of wages. No incidents were reported during the event. Meanwhile, in Portuguesa, the guilds organized a demonstration on April 30th in Guanare as a prelude to the May 1st march. The protesters used creative costumes and messages to highlight their main demand: an income that exceeds $600 per month, which, according to their estimates, is required to cover the cost of basic food items. In Maturín, Monagas state, citizens gathered on Juncal Avenue on this Workers' Day to demand wage increases and prompt, free elections. https://twitter.com/JeffCivira/status/2050240293279064077 Lara recorded one of the largest gatherings in the inland region. More than 30 unions and workers' movements, grouped under the Inter-Sectoral Union of Workers of the state of Lara (Unitel), started from near the Barquisimeto Cathedral and marched to Plaza La Justicia. Union leaders...

Verónica Castro, Lorenzo Mendoza, and Delcy Rodríguez are being used to lure victims into predatory loan schemes. Profiles promising easy loans via mobile payments in Bolivars, supposedly at the "BCV rate," use stolen photos and then transform into accounts linked to profiles in Colombia. The financial regulator of the neighboring country and subsequent reports from Cocuyo Chepa have warned about these deceptive virtual fraud practices. Fake promotions, offers, discounts, and bank loans are very popular on social media. At Cocuyo Chepa, we have verified advertisements that mimic the graphic design of Banco Mercantil and Banco de Venezuela, as well as false government payments like the "Bono Mujer" program, which also used an image of Delcy Rodríguez to deceive people. In April 2026, we discovered a new series of advertisements that use the names of famous or well-known people, such as Verónica Castro and Lorenzo Mendoza, to offer easy-to-obtain loans. The request reached our WhatsApp chatbot, "La Tía," which is also available on Telegram, but these accounts are potential scams because they disappear or change within days, offering personal loans to people in Colombia, completely changing their graphic design. This verification is the result of our strict adherence to our verification methodology, after analysis and comparison with available evidence, and does not represent opinions or value judgments, as we establish in our…

The number of fatalities from the bus accident on the national highway connecting Mérida with Barinas rose to 10 on Monday. Rescue teams recovered the last bodies during the extended operations on Sunday and confirmed the final death toll in the past few hours. The accident occurred on the afternoon of Saturday, April 25th, in the La Campana sector, in the Cardenal Quintero municipality of the state of Mérida, near the border with Barinas. A bus belonging to the Unión Táchira company, with license plate 578AS6P, lost control, veered off the road, and plunged over a cliff more than 600 meters deep, impacting a ravine and a body of water. The vehicle was carrying approximately 16 people, including the driver, Germán Ramón Altuve, who is among the deceased. The Mérida Civil Protection agency, firefighters, the Bolivarian National Police, the National Guard, and the Cicpc (Scientific-Criminal Investigation Unit) participated in the complex rescue operations. Authorities temporarily suspended the operations on Saturday night due to adverse weather conditions and resumed them on Sunday with a contingent of more than 100 personnel. Nine bodies have been tentatively identified; one remains pending identification at the morgue of the Timotes hospital. Among the fatalities are: Germán Ramón Altuve (driver) Yosman Alexander Toro Araque Rafael José Saavedra Vásquez (teacher from Táchira) Yasmín Coromoto Díaz Kleiver Contreras (athlete from Bari…

Without blaming external factors such as animals, sabotage by opposition groups, or interference from other countries, the National Electric Corporation (Corpoelec) attributed the cause of the power outage that affected the Zulia state for at least 8 hours on Thursday to the heavy rains that fell in the western part of the country. In a statement on social media, the Ministry of Electric Power stated that technical personnel assigned to the ministry are working to restore power to the eight municipalities in Zulia affected by a blackout that began at 3:30 AM on April 16th and which, even past noon, was still affecting several localities. "At this time, our technical teams are continuing to carry out the necessary maneuvers to gradually restore power," the statement said, without providing further information. Last Sunday, the National Council of Commerce and Services (Consecomercio) urged the Venezuelan government to clarify the energy conservation plan, established last March to contribute to the stability of the electrical system, following reports of prolonged power outages in several states of the country. In a statement, Consecomercio requested that the days and hours of the power rationing be published, which would allow the commercial sector and service providers to "plan and take the necessary steps to continue guaranteeing goods and services..."

Did you receive this WhatsApp chain message about alleged home robberies? Read these key points before sharing: There are no official reports or complaints about robberies carried out with a "judicial order." It has been circulating since 2010 and is adapted to different countries and contexts. It includes urgent messages and calls to forward the content without verifying its accuracy. Disinformation not only aims to deceive in political, social, or economic matters, as often happens in Venezuela, but also seeks to generate fear with supposed alerts about nonexistent crimes, such as this false alert about a new type of phone fraud to duplicate SIM cards, or false warnings about health problems related to products that are only trying to discredit them, like this old news story about the recall of Fabuloso detergent. Now, this image with an "URGENT!" alert has reached our WhatsApp chatbot, "La Tía del WhatsApp," which is also available on Telegram. The alert states that "They are robbing homes with a judicial order," detailing that "they even know your ID number. They ring your doorbell, and when you answer, they ask: 'Are you...?' mentioning your full name and your ID number. Then, they say: 'We have come to deliver a legal document.'" The text warns that "if you do not cooperate, you will have serious problems with the justice system." It also claims that these people "are dressed in civilian clothes and show false credentials," and recommends what to say if you are confronted with this situation, or, alternatively...

A widespread power outage left a large portion of the Zulia state without electricity starting in the early hours of Thursday morning, according to reports from social media users. The power outage began around 3:00 a.m. and affected approximately 80% of the region. Maracaibo and at least eight other municipalities, including San Francisco, Mara, Machiques, La Concepción, and La Cañada, were left in darkness for several hours. In some areas, electricity was restored intermittently after 6:00 a.m., but in other areas, the outage persisted beyond 7:00 a.m., and as of late morning, many residents were still without power. Earlier this morning, there was another widespread power outage in Maracaibo. The electrical system is in a state of complete disrepair due to those who have stolen everything, without regard for the suffering of Venezuelans, who experience daily power outages. There is no possibility of recovery with these people in power... — Juan Pablo Guanipa (@JuanPGuanipa) April 16, 2026 Residents reported the outage through social media. Local journalists, such as Lenin Danieri, documented the arrival of ambulances at the University Hospital of Maracaibo in complete darkness. Heavy rainfall during the early morning hours further complicated the situation. The opposition leader, Juan Pablo Guanipa, described the incident as a demonstration of the "complete neglect" of the national electrical system. "There is no possibility of recovery as long as these people remain in power..."

The Ministry of Health published its first epidemiological bulletin in ten years this Thursday, corresponding to week 13 (March 15-21, 2026), breaking a prolonged period of silence regarding information dissemination that had lasted since 2016. The document, available on the ministry's website, only includes data on five of the more than 30 diseases that are subject to mandatory reporting in the country: yellow fever, human rabies, Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever, measles, rubella, and malaria. It does not contain information on HIV/AIDS, dengue fever, acute diarrhea, pneumonia, or other relevant pathologies. Key data revealed in the bulletin: 38 cases of yellow fever have been confirmed since June 2025, with 21 deaths. 115 epizootic events (epidemics in animals) were recorded in non-human primates. In malaria, there have been 25,259 cases between 2025 and the first 12 weeks of 2026, representing an 8.3% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. 81.1% of these cases are concentrated in the Bolívar state, an area with intense mining activity. The bulletin does not include data prior to 2025 and does not compare complete historical figures. Yellow Fever Venezuela is endemic for yellow fever, with recurrent outbreaks and confirmed cases in humans and primates. From June 2025 to week 12 of 2026, 38 cases have been confirmed, with 21 deaths (case fatality rate of 55.3%). In 2025, there were 32 cases and 17 recoveries; in 2026, there were 6 cases and 4 recoveries. 115 …

The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Inameh) forecasts a mostly cloudy to partly cloudy sky across much of the country for this Monday, with an increase in precipitation during the afternoon and evening, particularly in the southern regions and the Andes. According to the Inameh bulletin, prepared on April 6th and valid for the following days, the morning hours will be characterized by a partly cloudy sky. However, cloud cover is already forming, leading to isolated showers or thunderstorms, some with electrical activity, in the southern part of Lake Maracaibo, southern Apure, Delta Amacuro, Guayana Esequiba, Bolívar, and Amazonas. Lighter rainfall is expected in the Andes, the Central North Coast, and the Northeast. During the afternoon and evening, cloud cover will increase significantly. Variable intensity precipitation and thunderstorms are forecast, with a higher frequency and intensity in the Andes, Guayana Esequiba, Delta Amacuro, Bolívar, and Amazonas. Moderate rainfall is also expected in Zulia, the mountainous areas of La Guaira, Miranda, and Sucre. Regional Forecast: Central Region and Capital (Miranda, La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo, and the Capital District): Partly cloudy skies in the morning, with scattered precipitation in the afternoon and evening. Eastern Region: Clear skies initially, with scattered showers and drizzle in the afternoon and evening. Northwestern Region (Yaracuy, Falcón, and Lara): Little cloud cover in the morning, increasing after midday with…

The Venezuelan NGO, Programa Venezolano de Educación Acción en Derechos Humanos (Provea), reported this Saturday that 11 years have passed since the "forced disappearance" of social leader Alcedo Mora, who had reported alleged cases of corruption within the state-owned oil company, PDVSA. "Months before his disappearance, Alcedo had reported cases of corruption in PDVSA and gasoline smuggling in Venezuela," the organization stated in a post on X. Eleven years have passed since the forced disappearance of social leader Alcedo Mora. Months before his disappearance, Alcedo had reported cases of corruption in PDVSA and gasoline smuggling in Venezuela. According to family members, officials from the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN) are allegedly responsible... pic.twitter.com/qfK7fLyFqu — PROVEA (@_Provea) April 4, 2026 According to Mora's family, Provea continued, officials from the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN) were responsible for the activist's disappearance. Furthermore, the organization stated that Mora, as a social activist, supported residents of the Andean region of Venezuela in their efforts to demand their rights, and often took critical stances against government policies in the country. In a press release on its website, Provea reported that Mora was a well-known regional leader of the Venezuelan Revolutionary Party, and he shared his political opinions on programs broadcast by various radio stations. On February 25, 2015, the activist alerted several friends, through...

The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Inameh) has confirmed the official start of the rainy season in Venezuela, beginning on April 1st and extending until November 30th. The president of Inameh, Reidy Zambrano, stated that rainfall begins systematically in April, and that the country will enter this phase under the influence of the La Niña phenomenon, a condition that tends to increase the volume of rainfall across the national territory. The initial rainfall will be most pronounced in the southern part of the country. The states that will experience the most significant initial activity include Amazonas, southern Bolívar, Guayana Esequiba, southern Apure, Barinas, and Táchira. In the rest of the country, rainfall will depend on the evolution of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), troughs, and trade winds. Inameh detailed that the rainy pattern will progress gradually from the south towards the central regions in the following weeks. The high temperatures that have affected the country in recent weeks will decrease with the arrival of the rainfall. Independent meteorologists from Clima Caracas (@meteoccs) published a report that aligns with the official forecasts. The report includes maps showing a higher frequency of rainfall in the center and south of Guayana Esequiba, southern Bolívar, Amazonas, and areas south and west of Apure and Barinas during the first half of April. #01Apr | Starting from…

The non-governmental organization Provea reported that Venezuela is experiencing constant power outages, despite the government's announcement of a 45-day energy conservation plan, which has not been explained or detailed. The interim governing official, Delcy Rodríguez, announced a "45-day Energy Conservation Plan" on March 21st. However, neither she, nor the Minister of Electricity, Rolando Alcalá, nor Corpoelec (the state-owned electricity company) have published the content of the plan or a rationing schedule by state or municipality, according to Provea. Venezuela continues to suffer from blackouts with no respite. Delcy Rodríguez announced 45 days of rationing, but how are we supposed to prepare when we don't know when the power will be back on? We demand a detailed schedule, by state and municipality. Uncertainty cannot continue to be the only response from the government... pic.twitter.com/ZggiFkzQoa — PROVEA (@_Provea) April 1, 2026 "The uncertainty affects millions of households. In the states of Táchira and Mérida, power outages last between six and 14 hours per day. In Zulia, Carabobo, and Monagas, the outages have intensified after the official announcement," the NGO added. Data from HumVenezuela reveals that in 2024, 68.9% of households experienced severe electrical failures, a figure that decreased to 38.6% in 2025, although 14 of the 24 states in the country remain in a critical situation. Provea rejected the official explanation that attributes the problems to rising temperatures. The organization attributed the failures to "state neglect and deterioration..."

Representatives from the Venezuelan government, led by Delcy Rodríguez, and the Venezuelan Chamber of Shopping Centers, Merchants, and Related Businesses (Cavececo) held a meeting this Tuesday to reinforce the measures of the National Energy Saving Plan, which was decreed in response to the heatwave and drought affecting the National Electrical System. According to official information from VTV, the meeting included the Vice President for Public Works and Services, Juan José Ramírez, the Ministers of Commerce and Industry, Luis Antonio Villegas Ramírez, and of Electrical Energy, Rolando Alcalá, along with executives from Cavececo, led by their representative, Claudia Itriago. "We have reached good agreements regarding the rational use of the electrical system," Ramírez stated after the meeting. One of the main measures agreed upon is the shutdown of escalators and vertical transportation systems (elevators and escalators) during periods of lower traffic, only turning them on during peak demand hours. In addition, topics such as the use of self-generation systems and the optimization of air conditioning systems in shopping centers were discussed, he added. Ramírez described the exchange as "very positive" for both the National Electrical System and the commercial sector. For its part, Cavececo announced that it will implement these measures immediately and will launch an internal campaign to raise public awareness about energy conservation, spreading the message…

The Venezuelan government is blaming the solar declination – an annual astronomical phenomenon confirmed by the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Inameh) – for the anticipated increase in electricity demand, which motivates the recently announced National Energy Saving Plan by Delcy Rodríguez. Many interpret this plan as a covert 45-day rationing scheme. According to Inameh, the solar declination began on March 21, 2026, the day after the boreal spring equinox. This event involves the apparent passage of the sun from south to north over Venezuelan territory, with perpendicular (or zenith) incidence of sunlight. Temperatures in Venezuela will increase from March 21 due to the solar declination, leading to potentially high temperatures (37°C to 39°C) in regions like the Central and Western Llanos, Zulia, the North Coastal Zone, Amazonas, Anzoátegui, and Bolívar. The government has linked this 45-day period to increased electricity consumption due to the massive use of air conditioners and refrigeration, activating a 'savings plan' that includes recommendations such as setting air conditioners to at least 21°C and disconnecting non-essential equipment. Independent experts and government critics argue that the solar declination occurs every year without causing comparable electrical crises in other tropical countries, attributing the pressure on the National Electrical System to structural factors such as the deterioration of thermoelectric plants and infrastructure obsolescence.

A viral WhatsApp chain is circulating a false "Women's Bonus" of Bs. 40,000, purportedly distributed by Delcy Rodríguez. This is a scam designed to steal personal data. The link redirects to an insecure page and requests personal information through deceptive surveys. Authorities have not announced any such bonus. This tactic is a recurring pattern of disinformation, reusing links and narratives from previously debunked scams. Do not click on the link or provide any personal information.