Looting wave in Venezuela: at least 570 detainees

Some 570 people were arrested in the state of Zulia, in western Venezuela, by a wave of looting of at least 350 settlements that began on Sunday, in the midst of a blackout that affected almost the whole country.

A government source in this oil-rich region said the total number of arrests has gone from 377 to 570 in the last 24 hours, although authorities have not yet provided it with a balance of injury.

Ricardo Acosta, Zulia spokesman for Fedecámaras, the country's main employer, told the EFE news agency that the looting had been recorded in at least four state municipalities but was concentrated in its capital, Maracaibo.

There, more than 300 companies were targeted by violent groups, especially on Monday, when the crowds were outnumbered by the forces of order.

Looting involved bakeries, hardware stores, supermarkets, clothing and footwear stores, pharmacies, jewelery stores, furniture stores, optical stores and shopping malls.

"These are losses that come from goods, office equipment, work equipment and damage to the furniture structures of companies," said Acosta.