Explosions heard over Venezuelan capital Caracas amid US tensions.. Video ~ World Opinion

The southern area of ‌the ‌city, ⁠near a major military ‌base, is reportedly without electricity.

Explosions have been heard and plumes of smoke are rising in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, according to an Al Jazeera correspondent there, amid spiralling tensions with the United States.

Video footage obtained by Al Jazeera showed balls of fire and thick smoke coming from a structure next to a body of water in Caracas early on Saturday.

Citing sources, Al Jazeera’s Lucia Newman, who is reporting from Santiago in Chile, said the explosion occurred near or around Fortuna, the main military base in Caracas.

“Fortuna is a key military base there. A series of explosions were reportedly heard throughout the area followed by a blackout,” Newman said.

Our correspondent added that there is a “presumption” that the US has something to do with the incident.

“We don’t know yet how this explosion happened. There is also a possibility that this is an act of an internal sabotage among elements of the military who are trying to oust President Nicolas Maduro,” Newman noted.

The Associated Press news agency reported at least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in the capital.

In recent days, Venezuela’s Maduro indicated that Venezuela was open to negotiating a deal with the US to combat drug trafficking, even as he remained silent on a reported CIA-led strike on his country last week.

The latest statement, made during an interview that aired on Thursday, came as Maduro has struck a more conciliatory tone towards the US amid Washington’s months-long sanctions and military pressure campaign.