A humanitarian mission from El Salvador has been credited with rescuing 69-year-old Marlene Angulo from the rubble of a collapsed building in Venezuela after specialized search equipment detected signs of life that had previously gone unnoticed. According to her grandson, local firefighters had concluded that she had died before Salvadoran rescue teams arrived with advanced technology capable of locating survivors beneath the debris.
The family said the specialized equipment deployed by El Salvador’s emergency personnel was instrumental in identifying Marlene’s vital signs, allowing rescuers to begin a successful extraction. Expressing gratitude for the international assistance, her grandson stated that the Salvadoran mission brought hope at a critical moment, saying, “When our government had abandoned us, here is El Salvador.”
President Nayib Bukele later confirmed that Marlene Angulo had been rescued alive and was receiving medical treatment. He explained that after emerging from the rubble, she asked for a Coca-Cola, but medical personnel first focused on stabilizing her through intravenous hydration before continuing her care.
The rescue highlights the capabilities of El Salvador’s specialized search-and-rescue teams, whose expertise, advanced equipment, and rapid deployment continue to support life-saving operations in Venezuela. As humanitarian efforts continue, Salvadoran crews remain engaged in the search for additional survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures.