CARACAS, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela saw electricity gradually restored on Tuesday, a day after a massive blackout left much of the country without energy.
The National Electric Corporation said electricity was fully restored in the capital Caracas, but partially restored in the states of Barinas, Merida and Trujillo to the west, and Aragua to the north.
Early in the day, Communication Minister Jorge Rodriguez announced businesses and schools would remain closed to "help the process of reconnecting" the country's electric grid.
The blackout occurred at 4:45 p.m. local time (2045 GMT) Monday, knocking power out to the capital's metro system, the telecommunications network and utilities, such as potable water.
Venezuelans reacted calmly and responsibly to the power outage, officials said.
On Monday night, Rodriguez issued an official statement, saying a preliminary probe of the incident indicated there was foul play involved.
"The initial reports received from the investigation ... point to the existence of an electromagnetic attack that aimed to impact the hydroelectric generation system in Guayana, the country's main supplier" of electricity, said Rodriguez.
Also Monday, Transport Minister Hipolito Abreu said the government was developing a contingency plan to provide transportation services to thousands left stranded by the collapse of the mass transit system.
Airports and ports were operating as usual, since they were equipped with generators, he said.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Nestor Luis Reverol announced the widespread deployment of security forces and disaster management personnel to ensure peace and discourage looting.
The public healthcare system and its network of hospitals were operating at near 100 percent capacity, Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said.
Venezuelans still have fresh memories of a massive blackout on March 7 that brought the country to a standstill for days.
Since March, Venezuela's National Electric System has suffered numerous attacks including gunfire shots, fires and "cybernetic and electromagnetic" aggressions on the automated control system of the main hydroelectric power plant.
The government has blamed the country's right wing and its international backers, mainly the United States, for the attacks.
