CARACAS, Venezuela – The normally raucous capital of Caracas was eerily quiet on Monday, two days after the United States bombed the city and abducted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
However, many “caraqueños” still went out to buy food and other necessities, even at increased prices.
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The tense atmosphere on the streets of Caracas was the latest sign of the anxiety Venezuelans face on a daily basis, facing the imminent threat of further intervention by the United States.
Local authorities are calling for normal economic activity to continue in Venezuela. However, some stores remained closed and households stocked up on essential goods in case of shortages.
In Caracas’s central market, Quinta Crespo, many shop owners had closed their shops, fearing riots and looting.
Despite the midday sun, lines of more than 10 people often formed outside the stores, which remained open. Officers from the Bolivarian National Police patrolled outside to calm the procession.
Shoppers told Al Jazeera they were buying non-perishable foods such as corn flour, rice and canned goods in case the security situation in the capital deteriorates.
“Given the situation the country is facing, we are looking for basic necessities,” said Carlos Godoy, 45, who lives in the Caricuao neighborhood in western Caracas. “We’re waiting to see what happens. We’re all in fear and uncertainty.”
Among the most expensive products Godoy saw on his shopping trip was powdered milk, which sells for $16 per kilogram, he said.
Another shopper, Betzelpa Ramirez, said she felt calm despite the early Saturday morning attack. Although she didn’t feel the need to stock up on groceries, she noticed that the prices of some items were rising.
“Hygiene products are more expensive than groceries,” she says.
Alexandra Arizmendi, who works at a mobile phone shop in Sanville Mall, one of Caracas’ busiest streets, expressed frustration at some of the recent price hikes.
Egg prices are “overstated,” she says.
“The prices are high,” she said. “Cartons of eggs are selling for $10, which is above normal.”
Maria Gabriela, a 23-year-old colleague at a mobile phone shop, lamented the slump in sales as shoppers remained indoors fearing further uncertainty.
The usually busy shopping mall was almost empty of its usual crowds. Gabriella herself was reluctant to go to work. She avoided public transportation and traveled by taxi.
“We thought people would be looking for chargers and power banks (in case of a potential power outage), but they were looking for other things,” Gabriela said.
“No activity as usual. It’s been one of the strangest days in months.”
Over the past decade, Venezuelans have become accustomed to volatile price increases and supply shortages. Experts often blame government corruption, mismanagement and US sanctions for destabilizing Venezuela’s economy.
During Maduro’s presidency, oil prices plummeted and Venezuela’s oil-intensive economy collapsed.
By 2018, inflation had reached more than 130,000 percent, according to the country’s central bank. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has also hit the economy hard, leading to shortages of food and health supplies.
Maduro’s government has not released inflation statistics since he declared victory in the disputed 2024 presidential election.
It remains unclear how much normalcy will return to Venezuela after Saturday’s U.S. attack.
Earlier that morning, US President Donald Trump’s administration fired shells at military facilities in the states of Caracas, Aragua, Miranda, and La Guaira.
At least 80 people were killed in the attack, according to anonymous Venezuelan officials cited by the New York Times.
The U.S. attack was over in a few hours. But President Trump warned that he could authorize a “second wave” of attacks if his demands on Venezuela are not met.
The Venezuelan government also declared a state of emergency and said it would “immediately begin a nationwide search and capture of all persons involved in facilitating or supporting armed attacks by the United States.”
Maduro insists he remains Venezuela’s leader despite his abduction by the United States.
Arizmendi said tensions in Venezuela have not yet reached the levels seen after the 2024 elections, when thousands of protesters took to the streets.
“I feel like there’s more tension around the election,” Arizmendi said. “Thankfully, we’re not at that level right now, but it feels like we’re not that far away.”
