SAEDNEWS: A massive explosion and fire tore through Venezuela’s Petrocedeno oil upgrader in Anzoátegui state, sending thick clouds of smoke over the facility and forcing emergency evacuations.
A blast erupted near a critical distillation tower in Venezuela, though officials have not released casualty figures, and state oil company PDVSA has yet to clarify the extent of damage or disruptions to output. The plant, vital to the nation’s economy, processes heavy crude for export, according to Western media outlets, including Reuters.
Local footage showed flames engulfing storage areas as firefighters battled the blaze well into the night. The incident comes just days after a deadly gas explosion at the Muscar complex on November 13, which killed eight workers and cut fuel supplies by 60%.
The disaster unfolds amid escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas during President Trump’s second term. Since August, the U.S. has authorized military strikes against Latin American drug cartels near Venezuelan waters and deployed an unprecedented naval presence in the Caribbean—moves Venezuelan officials have described as “psychological warfare” aimed at pressuring President Nicolás Maduro.
Relations further deteriorated after Maduro’s disputed July reelection, with Trump alleging fraud and hinting at possible intervention. Venezuela has reportedly sought Russian support for missile and radar systems, even as quiet negotiations continue over potential oil-for-sanctions relief deals.
