Vast gasoline lines forming in Venezuela after U.S. sanctions

MARACAIBO, VENEZUELA >> U.S. sanctions on oil-rich Venezuela appear to be taking hold, resulting in mile-long lines for fuel in the South American nation’s second-largest city, Maracaibo.

Some drivers said they’d had to wait almost 24 hours to fuel up.

Nearing empty and stuck in line, infectious diseases doctor Yoli Urdaneta said she couldn’t make her shift to treat patients. “I’ve spent four days trying to get gasoline,” Urdaneta said. “But I couldn’t.”

A satellite cruising over Maracaibo on Thursday captured pictures of cars lined up for a mile through the city to the pumps, according to U.S.based Maxar Technologies.

Russ Dallen, a Miami-based partner at the brokerage firm Caracas Capital Markets, said Sunday that stiff U.S. sanctions on top of decaying refineries have begun to hit home.

The Trump administration this year sanctioned state-run oil firm PDVSA in an effort aimed at driving President Nicolás Maduro from office.