After two agonizing and desperate days, the search for 10-year-old Dulce Victoria came to a tragic and heartbreaking end. The young girl, who had disappeared after falling into the Lerma River, was found lifeless on Saturday morning — a discovery that shattered the fragile thread of hope that had kept her community clinging to a semblance of optimism. What began as a frantic rescue mission, filled with the desperate hope of bringing Dulce back, turned into a sorrowful recovery that left the entire town of Salamanca reeling in grief.
In a somber official statement, the Salamanca Municipal Government confirmed the devastating news: “It is with deep sadness and respect that we inform the public that the body of a 10-year-old girl who fell into the Lerma River in the community of Pitayo last Thursday has been recovered.” The statement went on to express condolences to Dulce’s heartbroken family and assured the community that the municipality would handle the aftermath of this tragedy with dignity and full transparency. This message wasn’t just an announcement — it was an acknowledgment of the collective mourning that had enveloped the entire town.
The search effort had mobilized an extraordinary and unified emergency response. Teams from Irapuato, Pueblo Nuevo, and Huanímaro rallied to assist local firefighters, Red Cross units, Civil Protection personnel, and volunteer divers. Key figures, including Liborio Vázquez and the Salamanca Rescue Brigade, coordinated their efforts tirelessly, working around the clock with one singular goal: to bring Dulce home. Each passing hour only deepened the anguish felt by the entire community, with neighbors lining the riverbanks, refusing to give up on the possibility of a miracle.
The tragedy began on Thursday, June 12, at approximately 3:15 p.m., when emergency services received a frantic call: two children had been swept away by the sudden and powerful current of the Lerma River. Witnesses recounted how Dulce and a young boy had been playing dangerously close to the water’s edge. In an instant, they lost their footing, and the current swept them away. The boy managed to grab hold of a tree branch and was rescued, but Dulce was taken by the raging waters. His vivid account provided critical information, guiding the search crews through the river’s unpredictable twists and turns. But despite their best efforts, the violent force of the water left little hope for a positive outcome.
For two harrowing days, Salamanca existed in a state of suspended grief and anxiety. Volunteers combed the area tirelessly, while social media became flooded with urgent calls for help, and prayer circles gathered along the riverbank. Parents held their children closer, their hearts heavy with fear for the fate of Dulce. Everyone — from the local community to distant strangers — hoped for a miracle. But as the days passed, it became clear that the river had already determined its course. When the divers finally found Dulce’s body, it brought with it both an end and an agonizing sense of relief. The unbearable uncertainty that had gripped the town for so long was finally over, but the light of a young life had been tragically extinguished.
This heart-wrenching tragedy leaves behind more than just grief. It stands as a stark reminder of the merciless power of nature and the fleetingness of innocence. Local officials have since urged heightened awareness around natural waterways, emphasizing the need for stronger safety measures and precautionary steps to avoid such a horrific incident from happening again.
In Salamanca, the name Dulce Victoria now carries the weight of a shared, communal sorrow. Her story has become a symbol of innocence lost too soon and a powerful reminder of the need for vigilance, born from the profound heartbreak that has shaken her family, her friends, and her entire community. Her name will resonate in the quiet whispers along the banks of the Lerma River, in the heartfelt warnings of parents speaking to their children, and in the hearts of everyone who waited, hoped, and ultimately wept for the young girl who was stolen away by the river’s unforgiving current.