Juliana Marins, a 26-year-old Brazilian tourist, was found dead four days after a tragic fall while hiking on Mount Rinjani in Indonesia. Her family confirmed the news on social media, expressing their deep sorrow: “With great sadness, we inform you that she did not survive. We remain very grateful for all the prayers, messages of affection and support that we have received.”
Marins was hiking in a group of six, including five friends and a guide, when she fell from a cliff surrounding the trail near the volcano’s crater early Saturday morning at approximately 06:30 local time (23:30 GMT Friday). Reports from those in her group highlighted that the terrain was slippery and the visibility poor, making the ascent particularly challenging.
Initial rescue efforts faced significant difficulties due to the rugged landscape and foggy weather conditions. Rescuers initially heard her cries for help after her fall, as drone and video footage circulated on Brazilian media showing her alive and moving in a gray-soiled area below the trail. However, search teams were unable to reach her in the early attempts, descending 300 meters (984 feet) only to discover she was no longer in the same location.
By Sunday morning, park authorities indicated that thick fog had hindered progress, complicating the use of thermal drones. On Monday, officials managed to locate her again, suggesting that she had fallen further down, but attempts to retrieve her body were stalled due to adverse weather conditions.
When rescue operations resumed on Tuesday, teams descended 600 meters down a ravine to reach her, but bad weather has delayed the recovery of her remains. According to the head of Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, Mohammad Syaffi, about 50 personnel have participated in the operation.
Mount Rinjani, standing at 3,726 meters, is a popular destination that draws thousands of hikers annually, though previous incidents have raised concerns about safety. Reports noted that another tourist from Malaysia had died last month while attempting the climb. Marins’ family has voiced worries regarding the trail’s safety, particularly questioning why it was not closed following her fall.