Crisis in Venezuela escalate as protestors take to streets in light of extended blackout.
Amidst the political chaos, 15 people affected with advanced kidney disease died after being unable to get dialysis during the country's extended power outage.
In light of this, a charged Juan Gauido ramped up people against Maduro in nationwide protests for which thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets. Gauido, who is recognized as interim president of the country by US and 50 other nations also said that he will embark on a tour of the country.
"Between yesterday and today, there were 15 deaths for lack of dialysis," said Francisco Valencia, director of the Codevida health rights group.
"The situation of people with kidney failure is very difficult, critical, we are talking about 95 per cent of dialysis units, which today likely hit 100 per cent, are paralysed, due to the power outage," Valencia added.
Pro-government demonstrations have also taken place at the capital, Caracas. The march was a bold move by opponents of the Maduro government, both for its unusual proximity to state installations and for it taking place amid the blackout.
Venezuelans have been in the grips of the worst blackout in its history since Thursday afternoon. Although Caracas and the states of Miranda and Vargas — home to the country's international airport and main port — had intermittent power, the western regions of Barinas, Tachira and Zulia remained without electricity.
President Nicolas Maduro government has charged that a US-led war on electric power supply was under way. This was mocked by US Senator Marco Rubio who said on Twitter, “A few weeks ago the Maduro regime blamed iguanas for causing a large electric grid blackout.
“We have now received the first video of what caused tonight’s unprecedented nationwide blackout in Venezuela.”
The tweet was accompanied with an image of a Godzilla spitting fire on a city.
As he spoke to his supporters, Juan Guaido threatened to call on outside intervention "when the time comes," pointing to the constitution, which authorises "the use of a Venezuelan military mission abroad, or foreigners inside the country." "Today, more than ever, we're anti-imperialists. We will never surrender!" Maduro wrote on Twitter, in reply to his opponent.
The atmosphere was simmering with angry protestors and at the destination, Avenida Victoria, protesters were at a stand off of sorts with the police before the rally even began .
