Venezuelan blackout blamed on 'electromagnetic attack'

Venezuela has been plunged into darkness for the fourth time this year with another nationwide blackout hitting the country, in something that Venezuelan officials are calling a hostile "electromagnetic attack".

The blackout has taken most of the country down including the capital Caracas, with close to 94% of the Venezeulan telecommunications infrastructure affected. Internet connectivity in the country has dropped to 10% nationwide, which means we're not hearing much out of the country and whatever comes out, is in drips.

The Venezuelan government released a statement on Twitter saying the blackout was "an electromagnetic attack" but didn't point any fingers in who did it. Officials are working around the clock to restore power and internet cconnectivity, while working on supplies like food and water, as well as health services and transportation.

Power went down at just after 4PM local time (20:00 GMT) which had immediate attacks as the blackout took place right on peak hour traffic, so traffic lights going out of operation saw traffic come to a stand still -- in complete darkness. Authorities admitted after 3 hours that the blackout was caused by a hostile electromagnetic attack on a series of dams in southern Venezuela.

Communications Minister Jorge Rodríguez said in a statement on TV: "Those who've systematically attacked the noble people of Venezuela in all kinds of ways will once again be confronted with the mettle and courage that we, the children of our liberator Simón Bolívar, have demonstrated in the face of difficulties".