High-voltage cable falls on ferry in Orinoco River

A high-voltage power line detached from an electrical tower and fell onto a ferry (chalana) crossing the Orinoco River on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred on the fluvial route connecting Puerto Páez in Apure state to Puerto Nuevo in Bolívar state.

Videos shared on social media captured sparks emitting from the electrical tower shortly before the cable fell. The cable landed directly on a passenger bus being transported on the vessel, creating an immediate risk of electrocution due to the metal structure of the ferry and the vehicles.

Passengers were forced to evacuate the vessel using smaller boats (peñeros) to reach the shore amid panic. While the incident caused significant distress, there has been no official statement from Corpoelec or Civil Protection regarding the cause of the failure or the impact on the regional power supply.