A failure in high-voltage line 765 San Jerónimo-La Arenosa caused a blackout at midday on Monday in the Greater Caracas and several areas in west Venezuela, reported Hipólito Izquierdo, chairman of the National Electrical Corporation.

The official said that the power loss was of approximately 4,500 MW and that the electricity generation turned off at Joaquina Sánchez plant, which serves the capital city. He reported also on a shortage of the electrical service in Maracaibo, the capital city of Zulia state, and part of west Venezuela.

At the time of giving the news, Izquierdo said that the power supply had been restored by 25 percent in the metropolitan area.

Additional reports aired on news TV channel Globovisión stated that the blackout affected also a portion of central Carabobo state, some municipalities in south-western Portuguesa state, and areas of Andean Táchira state, among others.