El Salvadoran rescuers save 69-year-old woman from earthquake debris in Venezuela; international aid arrives

Rescuers from El Salvador have successfully pulled a 69-year-old woman, Marlene Angulo, alive from the rubble left by powerful earthquakes in Venezuela. The rescue was announced by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who shared a poignant detail: upon her extraction, Angulo requested a Coca-Cola. "Our doctors explained that, for the moment, the most important thing was to hydrate her intravenously to stabilize her," Bukele stated on X, formerly Twitter. "Now she is receiving medical attention. God willing, we can save more lives. Strength, Venezuela."

Rescue operations intensified in La Guaira, the state most devastated by the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck on Wednesday. Heavy machinery arrived in the hardest-hit areas after days of work by civilian volunteers. International assistance has also bolstered the efforts, with helicopters, including two from the United States, transporting about 30 Argentine rescuers who are expected to stay for approximately 10 days. They join teams already present from Mexico, Ecuador, and El Salvador.

Residents in Caraballeda, previously frustrated by the slow arrival of heavy equipment, expressed relief at the increased aid. "I've been looking for food for three days, now I'm looking for clothes because all my clothes were blown away," said Xiomara Bloon, a 45-year-old resident, who also expressed gratitude for the humanitarian assistance. The earthquakes have claimed at least 1,430 lives, according to the latest reports.