SAD END: MISSING GIRL LOCATED

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What appeared to be a family outing ended in tragedy, as last Saturday morning, relatives of 11-year-old Dariana Esmeralda Martínez Rivas arrived at Puente Santa Lucía, on the banks of the Lempa River.

However, the girl was caught by a surge in the Lempa River that swept her away in front of some of her relatives, who were unable to help her due to the strength of the current.

From that moment, Comandos de Salvamento of El Salvador, Sensuntepeque branch, were alerted to begin the search and rescue of the child, but due to the rain and nightfall, operations were suspended and resumed on Sunday. Personnel from Military Detachment #2; Third Brigade; National Navy (with divers); Protección Civil of Northern San Miguel and Cabañas; Policía Nacional Civil, joined the effort to search the area.

They also had the collaboration of boats belonging to local residents to search downstream. Efforts were carried out throughout Sunday without results. It was not until Monday morning that the body of Dariana Esmeralda Martínez Rivas was located and brought onto dry land to be identified by judicial and police authorities.

Her family members, distraught, expressed their gratitude to the emergency-response organizations, military personnel, Protección Civil and police for their efforts and strength, allowing the girl to be given a Christian burial.