The President of Venezuela was forced to close schools and give workers the day off as the backout dragged for the third day.

On Friday, after more than 19 hours of power failure across the country. The Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez was forced to announce for schools to remain shut, public and private workers to stay at home.

Rodríguez, told the state run media Telesur that “an act of electric sabotage committed by Venezuela’s extreme-right opposition” on a hydroelectric plant in the country’s south.

Hospitals were the worst affected due to the power outage, in some places candles were used to monitor vital signs of newborns after backup generators shut off. Many patients died after their respirators stopped working.

The Government said the incident was part of a perceived plan to overthrow and weaken the Maduro government. Media close to the government reported  “a technological and cyber attack” on the Guri hydroelectric plant.

Flights in and out of Venezuela’s decaying airports were suspended and workers were forced to hike home after the Caracas metro ground to a halt.

Tens and thousands of people are protesting on the streets against the current president Nicolás Maduro ever since opposition leader Juan Guaidó declared himself interim president on 23rd January 2019.

Blackouts are common in Venezuela

Venezuelans witnesses a backout on an everyday basis. The nation faces a severe power shortage, the government periodically enforces controlled blackouts, where they would switch the power off for up to six hours at a time.

When such unplanned blackout happens the government blames, outside forces, and animals such as iguanas entering hydroelectric substations.

However this time around the blackout seems to have broken all past records by entering the 3rd day.