Rescuers in Indonesia are currently searching for a Brazilian tourist who went missing while hiking on Mount Rinjani, an active volcano. The woman, identified as 26-year-old Juliana Marins, vanished around 6:30 AM local time on Saturday, shortly after she and her group began their trek.
According to Brazilian media and Marins’s family, she fell from a cliff near the volcano’s crater. The search efforts have faced significant challenges due to difficult terrain and poor visibility caused by foggy weather. Indonesian authorities reported that rescuers heard Marins calling for help on Saturday, indicating she was still alive but appeared to be in shock.
Drone footage shared online showed her sitting in a grey area below the hiking path, but rescuers were unable to reach her after descending 300 meters. When they called out, there was no response. By Sunday morning, drone images revealed that she had moved from her last known location, complicating the search.
On Monday, rescuers located Marins again, but they had to halt their efforts due to unfavorable weather conditions. The family expressed concern over the park’s decision to keep the hiking route open, stating that tourists were still on the trail while Marins was in need of urgent assistance without food, water, or warm clothing.
An official from Indonesia’s forestry ministry noted that the route remained open after assessing that closing it would disrupt the ongoing rescue operation. They emphasized that climbers were warned not to approach the evacuation site.
Marins’s family has been in contact with Brazilian authorities, who have sent embassy staff to assist with the situation. They reported that the rescue operation for Marins has resumed, as her safety remains a top priority.
Mount Rinjani, which rises over 3,700 meters, is Indonesia’s second-largest volcano and is a popular destination for hikers. However, it has also seen tragic incidents in the past, including the deaths of other climbers due to falls. As the search continues, the hope is that Marins will be found safe and sound.