Brazilian Tourist Found Dead After Tragic Fall on Mount Rinjani
A Brazilian tourist, identified as 26-year-old Juliana Marins, has been found dead days after suffering a critical fall while hiking on Mount Rinjani, an active volcano in Indonesia. Her family and Indonesian search and rescue officials confirmed the tragic outcome after a complex and challenging multi-day operation.
Marins was reportedly hiking near the crater of the 3,726-meter (12,224-foot) peak on Lombok Island with a group of five friends and a guide on Saturday morning (around 06:30 local time / 23:30 GMT Friday) when the incident occurred. According to a member of her group, the terrain was slippery, the climb “very hard,” and visibility was poor at the time. Authorities stated she fell from a cliff adjacent to the trail that surrounds the volcano’s crater.
Harrowing Search and Rescue Effort
Initial reports indicated Marins survived the fall. Rescuers heard her screams for help on Saturday, and drone footage circulating online appeared to show her alive and moving on grey soil far below the hiking path. She was initially believed to be located around 300 meters down.
However, reaching her proved incredibly difficult. The search and rescue operation, which grew to involve approximately 50 personnel from various agencies, was severely hampered by the mountain’s extreme terrain, dense fog, poor visibility, and adverse weather conditions over the following days.
By Sunday morning, subsequent drone footage showed Marins was no longer in the initial location, suggesting she may have moved or slipped further. Fog limited the effectiveness of thermal drones and even attempts to use a helicopter for aerial support. On Monday, rescuers were able to relocate her using a drone, but she appeared to have fallen even further, reportedly reaching a depth of around 600 meters (1,968 feet) down a ravine or cliff. Rescuers had to halt efforts that day due to the worsening climate conditions.
Body Located After Four Days
After four days of intensive searching, teams finally reached Marins’ location on Tuesday, June 24. They descended 600 meters to the difficult-to-access area beside the crater. Officials confirmed that upon reaching her, there were no signs of life.
Marins’ family shared the devastating news via a statement on social media, saying, “With great sadness, we inform you that she did not survive,” and expressing gratitude for the outpouring of prayers and support they had received.
Retrieval Challenges and Mountain Risks
Retrieval of Marins’ body from the challenging terrain has been further delayed by ongoing bad weather and difficult conditions, including soft sand in the area. Efforts to bring her body down the mountain to the base camp were expected to resume early on Wednesday morning.
The Brazilian government has confirmed Marins’ death, with the Foreign Ministry describing it as a tragedy. Brazil’s embassy in Jakarta was actively involved in coordinating with local Indonesian authorities throughout the search. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also expressed sadness and offered full support to the family. Adding a complex layer, the Brazilian embassy reportedly accused the Indonesian government of initially providing fabricated information about Marins being found alive shortly after the fall, an accusation for which Indonesia has not yet publicly responded.
Mount Rinjani is Indonesia’s second-tallest peak and a popular destination attracting thousands of trekkers annually for its breathtaking views. However, the mountain is also known for its inherent risks. The tragic incident involving Juliana Marins follows another fatality just last month, when a Malaysian tourist died on the mountain. Marins’ family has reportedly voiced concern that the hiking trail was not closed after her initial fall occurred.
Juliana Marins, a dancer residing in Niteroi, outside Rio de Janeiro, had been backpacking across Asia since February, having previously visited Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines before arriving in Indonesia. Her tragic death on Mount Rinjani highlights the potential dangers faced by even experienced travelers on challenging natural landscapes.
