Multiple explosions were heard across Venezuela’s capital early Saturday, with plumes of smoke rising over parts of the city and power outages reported in several neighbourhoods, according to local residents and international media.

The first explosion was reported at around 1:50am local time, witnesses said. Journalists on the ground reported that electricity was cut in parts of Caracas following the blasts.

CNN said video footage obtained and verified by it showed smoke and explosions appearing to originate from the vicinity of Fort Tiuna, a major military complex that houses Venezuela’s Ministry of Defence. The full extent of the damage was not immediately clear.

US officials told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, that President Donald Trump had ordered strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities. No official confirmation was immediately issued by the White House.

Venezuela’s government strongly rejected the action, issuing a statement denouncing what it described as US military aggression against the country.

Several surrounding communities were left without electricity amid reports of explosions at multiple locations, including military installations, according to local sources.

The developments come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas, with President Trump in recent days warning that the United States was preparing new action against alleged drug trafficking networks operating in Venezuela and stating that land-based strikes would begin “soon.”

Authorities in Caracas had not released an official casualty assessment at the time of reporting.