Eyewitnesses from the Wayuu community report a Dec. 18 explosion in Alta Guajira that destroyed a hut and fishing equipment and left some residents with possible hearing damage. President Trump has publicly claimed the U.S. “knocked out” a Venezuelan-linked facility, but NBC News has not verified a link between that claim and the Dec. 18 blast. U.S. officials and the CIA have declined to confirm any operation, and local authorities and companies have issued limited responses.
Wayuu Witnesses Describe Mysterious Coastal Explosion in Northwest Venezuela Amid U.S. Strike Claims
Officials search the site of a strike in Alta Guajira, Venezuela. (Obtained by NBC News)
Eyewitnesses from the Wayuu indigenous community in the Alta Guajira coastal strip reported a loud explosion on Dec. 18 that destroyed a small hut and fishing gear, left residents temporarily deafened and prompted appeals for aid. The cause and responsible party remain unclear as U.S. political rhetoric about strikes on Venezuelan-linked sites has intensified scrutiny.
Eyewitness Accounts
Two Wayuu residents interviewed by NBC News said the blast occurred while they were fishing. One witness, who identified herself as Ana but declined to provide a surname for fear of reprisals, said the explosion was so powerful that she and relatives were unable to hear for hours afterwards and that some family members may have sustained hearing damage. Their boat, nets and hammocks were also destroyed.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Ana said. “We are humble people who fish to survive. We need help to recover what we lost.”
U.S. Statements and Uncertainty
In recent interviews, former President Donald Trump said the U.S. had “knocked out” a Venezuelan-linked facility and described a “major explosion” along the shoreline where boats loaded with drugs were allegedly handled. NBC News reporting has not established a connection between Trump’s comments and the Dec. 18 explosion in Alta Guajira. The CIA and the White House declined to comment beyond the president’s public remarks.
Local Impact and Government Response
Residents said Venezuelan government representatives arrived the morning after the blast, on Dec. 19. Locals requested medical assistance for hearing problems and replacement fishing gear. According to one witness, a government representative told villagers, “The gringos did this.” NBC News sought comment from Venezuelan authorities but did not receive an immediate response.
Context
The arid Alta Guajira shoreline, bordering Colombia, is an area where the National Liberation Army (ELN) — an armed group linked to drug trafficking — is known to operate. The reported incident occurs against a backdrop of months of U.S. maritime operations targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels. U.S. officials have said some strikes hit boats in international waters, but they have not publicly provided evidence tying those actions to the specific incidents discussed here.
Other Local Reports
Separately, local media and social posts circulated footage of a fire in Maracaibo. Chemical maker Primazol said a warehouse had caught fire and issued a statement rejecting social-media claims that the blaze was linked to any U.S. strike.
With limited independent verification and competing claims, who carried out the Dec. 18 explosion remains unknown. Residents say they are grateful to be alive but remain frightened and in need of assistance.
