Massive power outage hits Venezuela

Much of Venezuela was in the dark Friday after a widespread power outage in the South American country.

The outage affected homes, office buildings and even the presidential palace in the capital city of Caracas, as well as nine of Venezuela's 23 states.

Electricity Minister Jesse Chacon said a major line that connects the country's central and western parts had failed, causing the blackout in the early afternoon. Electricity still had not been fully restored as night fell.

The outage disrupted a televised celebration of journalists that President Nicolas Maduro was holding in the governmental palace. Maduro said the government would investigate the blackout.

Subway systems and train schedules were suspended around the country.

In Caracas, the sidewalks were filled with pedestrians, forcing some people to walk in the streets. While some middle class neighborhoods were without power after nightfall, the city's center experienced only intermittent outages.

The socialist country suffered major blackouts in 2012 and 2013. The administration blamed the power outages on sabotage, while opponents said they were the result of government incompetence.Much of Venezuela was in the dark Friday after a widespread power outage in the South American country.

The outage affected homes, office buildings and even the presidential palace in the capital city of Caracas, as well as nine of Venezuela's 23 states.

Electricity Minister Jesse Chacon said a major line that connects the country's central and western parts had failed, causing the blackout in the early afternoon. Electricity still had not been fully restored as night fell.

The outage disrupted a televised celebration of journalists that President Nicolas Maduro was holding in the governmental palace. Maduro said the government would investigate the blackout.

Subway systems and train schedules were suspended around the country.

In Caracas, the sidewalks were filled with pedestrians, forcing some people to walk in the streets. While some middle class neighborhoods were without power after nightfall, the city's center experienced only intermittent outages.

The socialist country suffered major blackouts in 2012 and 2013. The administration blamed the power outages on sabotage, while opponents said they were the result of government incompetence.