On Saturday, there was quite a bit of unrest in Venezuela as armed supporters of the detained dictator Nicolás Maduro took to the streets, demanding his reinstatement. This chaos led many residents to seek refuge inside their homes, as they expressed their fears to the Post.
“The nightmare isn’t over,” a Valencia local, who chose to remain anonymous, explained. “The figurehead may be gone, but his followers are still here.” It’s a sentiment echoed by many. “People are really afraid.”
In Caracas, residents were seen waiting in long lines outside stores, trying to purchase food while explosions and the sounds of low-flying planes echoed in the early morning air.
An older man noted that he faced difficulties getting reliable information from the local media. He described his city as “completely dead,” save for the Maduro loyalists. People venture out primarily to grab supplies, often standing in lengthy queues.
“It’s like people are shopping as if the world is ending tomorrow,” he remarked. “Fear is still pervasive because this military regime shows no mercy to dissent.”
He further shared concerns about armed groups patrolling the streets, worried they might steal essential items and threaten residents.
Since August, this man had been preparing for potential U.S. intervention by stockpiling supplies. Despite the ongoing anxiety, he felt a sense of relief over Maduro’s arrest, expressing, “Anyone who isn’t feeling some joy right now must have a dark soul.”
Supporters of Maduro also took to the devastated areas of Caracas after a nighttime airstrike rattled the capital.
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Pro-Maduro factions, referring to themselves as Chávez supporters after the late Hugo Chávez, were chanting, “We want Maduro!”
City gas stations remained closed, and public transportation services like buses and subways were halted.
Most supermarkets were shut down, with significant crowds gathering outside the few that remained open, as reported by the Spanish news agency EFE. One shop only permitted one person inside at a time to manage the crowd.
“I’m worried about the possibility of social upheaval taking us back to a time of shortages,” an elderly resident from a Caracas suburb remarked. “When I was younger, I used to wait in line to buy food, but I can’t do that anymore.”
Another local wished they could stock up on food but faced financial constraints. “At home, I only buy essentials because everything is quite pricey and food is scarce,” she mentioned.
