Amid the devastation caused by the earthquake that struck the Venezuelan state of La Guaira, a story of hope has gone around the world.
Marlene Angulo, 69, remained trapped for several days under the rubble of her home until a rescue team from El Salvador managed to locate her and pull her out alive. The operation was especially complex due to the difficulty of accessing the place where she was.
When she finally emerged to the surface, exhausted but conscious, she surprised everyone with a request as simple as it was unexpected.
“Can you give me a Coca-Cola?”
The doctors could not grant her wish immediately, since they first had to stabilize her through intravenous hydration before allowing her to drink any other beverage.
The moment went viral, and thousands of people interpreted that request as a symbol that Marlene was still clinging to life despite everything she had endured.
However, the joy of the rescue was also marked by uncertainty. At the time of the collapse, several members of her family were inside the home and, according to the available information, there was still no news about their whereabouts.
As search efforts continue among the rubble, Marlene’s story has become one of the few moments of hope amid a tragedy that has left thousands of victims and missing people.
Here is the video telling her story: