Photo: a screenshot CCTV News video showing local residents in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, line up outside a store on January 3, 2026.

On-site visits by reporters with Chinese media in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Saturday found that most shops were closed, long queues formed in front of some pharmacies and supermarkets, and some metro lines were not operating normally, after US large-scale attack on the South American country and captured Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro on early Saturday. 

"It is now 8:30 in the morning. As you can see, there are not many pedestrians on the streets, and there are few vehicles on the main roads. Most shops remain closed. I just passed a 24-hour pharmacy and noticed a long queue in front of it. After asking around, people said they were lining up to buy necessary medicines and some daily essentials," Liao Kaidi, one of the China Media Group (CMG) reporters in Caracas, observed. 

Lei Xiangping, another CMG reporter said that "I am now at a square in downtown Caracas. Normally, this place is bustling with many people coming here to take photos, drink coffee, and shop. But today, as you can see, the metro station behind me has hardly any pedestrians, and the metro is not operating normally."


Lei added that as he just drove toward the presidential palace and noticed a supermarket that was still open. "There is now a long queue of people in front of it. We tried to interview some local residents, but many of them were unwilling to be interviewed, and their expressions were very tense and solemn."


Venezuelan vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, called Maduro's capture "barbaric," an "illegal and illegitimate kidnapping" and an attack on Venezuela's sovereignty, CBS News reported on Sunday.

She also called for the "immediate release" of Maduro and his wife, calling him "the only president of Venezuela."

Maduro supporters raised clenched fists as they gathered in the streets of the Venezuelan capital after US forces captured him, NBC News reported on Saturday US time. One was pictured saluting and holding up a newspaper reading: "Maduro: I am going to continue in the streets with the people."

It is not known how many people rallied after the government called on Venezuelans to take to the streets and protest against the US action, the report said.

Some Maduro supporters burn a US flag during a gathering near Miraflores palace in Caracas after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in the early hours on Saturday, CBS News reported.

Several countries have issued strong condemnations over the US for its attack on Venezuela. Venezuela denounced the US' "military aggression," after large explosions were heard and aircraft were seen over its capital Caracas earlier in the day.

China is deeply shocked by and strongly condemns the US's blatant use of force against a sovereign state and action against its president, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson made the remarks on the US military strikes on Venezuela.

Such hegemonic acts of the US seriously violate international law and Venezuela's sovereignty, and threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean region. China firmly opposes it. We call on the US to abide by international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and stop violating other countries' sovereignty and security, the spokesperson said.

Global Times