A tragedy has occurred on Mount Rinjani.
Juliana Marins, a Brazilian tourist who fell off a cliff while hiking Indonesia’s active volcano, has been found dead, Brazilian authorities confirmed in a statement June 24.
The 26-year-old was initially reported missing on June 21, per the Brazilian government and Indonesia’s rescue agency, after which approximately 50 people were engaged in a days-long search and rescue effort.
“After four days of work, hindered by adverse weather, terrain and visibility conditions in the region,” the Brazilian government wrote in a statement, “teams from Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency found the body of the Brazilian tourist.”
“The Brazilian embassy in Jakarta mobilized local authorities at the highest level,” the statement continued, “for the rescue task and had been following the search work since Friday night, when it was informed of the fall on Mount Rinjai.”
According to Muhammad Hariyade, the head of local rescuers, Marins fell off a cliff on the mountain but not into the volcano crater. And as he told Reuters, the soft sand in the area made it difficult to retrieve her using ropes.
On June 23, an Instagram account providing updates from the Marins family throughout the search effort—which has since gained 1.6 million followers—announced that Marins was found unresponsive.
“Today, the rescue team managed to reach the place where Juliana Marins was,” the post read. “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.”
The following day, the head of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency Mohammad Syafii confirmed, per CBS News, that rescuers found her unresponsive and would evacuate her body the following morning because of bad weather.
As for how search and rescue teams located the hiker amid such severe weather conditions? According to Mount Rinjani’s official Instagram account, “The joint rescue team has attempted various methods, including aerial support using a helicopter, but heavy fog in the area has limited its effectiveness.”
“A total of 48 personnel from various agencies are involved,” the June 24 post continued, “with an alternative evacuation route being prepared via Segara Anak Lake if the steep terrain remains inaccessible.”
