A Brazilian tourist who fell from a popular hiking trail on Mount Rinjani in Indonesia has been found dead, according to her family and local authorities. Juliana Marins, 26, was reported missing after she fell from a cliff while trekking with friends and a guide. Rescuers initially heard her pleas for help on Saturday during the accident but faced challenges due to steep terrain and inclement weather.
The family expressed deep sorrow at the loss of Marins on social media, thanking supporters for their condolences. She had been enjoying a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia, having recently traveled through Thailand and Vietnam before reaching Lombok Island.
Eyewitness reports indicate that the group began their hike early Saturday at approximately 6:30 a.m. local time, facing slippery conditions and limited visibility along the trail surrounding the active volcano's crater. Despite sightings of Marins through drone footage and reports from fellow hikers, rescue operations were complicated. Search teams were unable to locate her due to rapidly changing weather conditions and the treacherous landscape.
After extensive searching, rescue teams managed to reach her location on Tuesday, revealing she had slipped further down the ravine. Despite her recovery efforts, the weather complicated the retrieval of her body, leaving rescue teams unable to bring her back immediately. The rescue effort mobilized around 50 individuals, highlighting the collective response to such tragic incidents.
Mount Rinjani, Indonesia's second-highest volcano, is a popular destination for tourists but has witnessed multiple fatalities in recent years, raising questions regarding the safety measures in place for hikers. Marins' family has emphasized their concerns about the trail's ongoing accessibility after her fall, calling into question the effectiveness of safety precautions on one of Indonesia’s most frequented trekking routes.
