India, Jan. 3 -- Early on Saturday morning, residents across Caracas, Venezuela, were jolted awake by a series of loud explosions and aircraft noise that echoed through the city around 2:00 am local time. Neighbourhoods reported at least seven distinct blasts, while sounds resembling low-flying aircraft were heard overhead.

Videos and eyewitness accounts showed smoke rising in the distance and people rushing into the streets in alarm. Several areas in Southern Caracas, including zones near a major military base, experienced power outages shortly after the disturbances.

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