Members of the small Greek community in Caracas have described tense scenes in the Venezuelan capital after the United States captured President Nicolás Maduro during a nighttime operation accompanied by airstrikes.
The head of the Greek community, Theodoros Maragellis, reportedly told Kathimerini that loud explosions were heard around 2 am.
“I woke up and wondered what had happened. At first we thought they were fireworks, but we quickly realised they were not. These were not ordinary explosions,” he said, adding that many Greeks had prepared for such an event by stocking up on supplies.
Maragellis said residents are staying indoors and expects shops to remain closed due to fear. “I don’t think anyone will open… I don’t know whether we will return on Monday,” he said.
Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima. pic.twitter.com/omF2UpDJhA
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 3, 2026
He estimated the Greek community in Caracas at around 300 people and said those he has spoken to are safe and calm despite power outages. “We are waiting to see how things develop,” he added.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis commented on the developments, writing, “Nicolas Maduro presided over a brutal and repressive dictatorship that brought about unimaginable suffering on the Venezuelan people. The end of his regime offers new hope for the country. This is not the time to comment on the legality of the recent actions.”
“The priority must now be to ensure a peaceful and speedy transition to a new inclusive government that enjoys full democratic legitimacy. Greece will coordinate with its European Union and UN Security Council partners on the matter. We remain focused on ensuring the safety of Greek citizens in the country,” Mitsotakis added.
The situation remains volatile as Venezuela’s defence minister denounced the capture as a “cowardly kidnapping,” while Maduro is expected to appear in a New York court.
