A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded on the slopes of Mount Rinjani, as Brazilian tourist Juliana Marins tragically plunged off a cliff during an expedition on Indonesia's active volcano. Her passing was confirmed by Brazilian authorities in a statement issued on June 24. The 26-year-old adventurer was first reported missing on June 21, prompting an exhaustive search and rescue mission involving approximately 50 personnel from both the Brazilian government and Indonesia's rescue agency.
"After four arduous days of relentless efforts, hampered by inclement weather, treacherous terrain, and limited visibility," the Brazilian government lamented in their statement, "teams from Indonesia's Search and Rescue Agency discovered the deceased body of the Brazilian tourist."
"The Brazilian embassy in Jakarta swiftly mobilized local authorities at the highest level," the statement further elaborated, "dedicating themselves to the rescue mission and meticulously tracking the search efforts since Friday evening, when they were notified of the fall on Mount Rinjani."
Muhammad Hariyade, the director of the local rescue team, clarified that Marins had fallen from a cliff on the mountain, but thankfully, not into the volcano's crater. However, he shared with Reuters that the area's soft sand complicated the retrieval process using ropes.
On June 23, an Instagram account dedicated to providing updates from the Marins family during the search—which has since garnered an overwhelming 1.6 million followers—announced the heartbreaking news of her discovery. "Today, the rescue team managed to reach the location where Juliana Marins was found," the post read with profound sorrow. "It is with immense grief that we inform you she did not survive. We are deeply appreciative of all the prayers, expressions of love, and unwavering support we have received."
The following day, Mohammad Syafii, the head of Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency, confirmed to CBS News that rescuers had found her unresponsive and decided to evacuate her body the next morning due to adverse weather conditions.
Regarding how search and rescue teams managed to locate the hiker amidst such harsh weather, Mount Rinjani's official Instagram account revealed, "The combined rescue team employed various strategies, including aerial support via helicopter; however, the dense fog in the region severely hindered its effectiveness."
"A total of 48 personnel from diverse agencies participated in the operation," the June 24 post continued, "with preparations underway for an alternative evacuation route through Segara Anak Lake, should the steep terrain remain inaccessible."
