BREAKINGBREAKING,

The southern area of ‌the ‌city, ⁠near a major military ‌base, is reportedly without electricity.

Explosions have been heard and plumes of smoke are rising in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, according to an Al Jazeera correspondent there, amid spiralling tensions with the United States.

Video footage obtained by Al Jazeera showed balls of fire and thick smoke coming from a structure next to a body of water in Caracas early on Saturday.

Citing sources, Al Jazeera’s Lucia Newman, who is reporting from Santiago in Chile, said the explosion occurred near or around Fortuna, the main military base in Caracas.

“Fortuna is a key military base there. A series of explosions were reportedly heard throughout the area followed by a blackout,” Newman said.

Our correspondent added that there is a “presumption” that the US has something to do with the incident.

“We don’t know yet how this explosion happened. There is also a possibility that this is an act of an internal sabotage among elements of the military who are trying to oust President Nicolas Maduro,” Newman noted.

The Associated Press news agency reported at least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in the capital.

In recent days, Venezuela’s Maduro indicated that Venezuela was open to negotiating a deal with the US to combat drug trafficking, even as he remained silent on a reported CIA-led strike on his country last week.

The latest statement, made during an interview that aired on Thursday, came as Maduro has struck a more conciliatory tone towards the US amid Washington’s months-long sanctions and military pressure campaign.

Still, Maduro renewed his allegations that the US is trying to topple his government and gain access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves through Washington’s months-long sanctions and military pressure campaign.

Asked point-blank if he confirmed or denied a US attack on Venezuelan soil, Maduro said: “This could be something we talk about in a few days.”

Maduro has said the Trump administration’s approach makes it “clear” that the US “seek to impose themselves” on Venezuela through “threats, intimidation and force”.

Maduro’s interview was taped on New Year’s Eve, the same day the US military struck five alleged drug-smuggling boats, killing at least five people.

The latest attacks bring the total number of known boat strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific to 35 and the number of people killed to at least 115, according to numbers announced by the Trump administration.

Venezuelans and Colombians have been among the victims.