JAKARTA/SAO PAULO — A Brazilian traveler who went missing after a fall while hiking Indonesia’s Mount Rinjani was found dead on Tuesday, four days after the accident, officials confirmed.
Juliana Marins, 27, was trekking with five companions on the slopes of Mount Rinjani in West Nusa Tenggara province when she reportedly slipped and fell down a cliff on Saturday. The volcano, known for its scenic trails, is the second-highest peak in Indonesia at 3,726 meters (12,224 feet).
The Brazilian government stated that rescue efforts were significantly delayed by poor weather, tough terrain, and limited visibility. Marins’ body was eventually recovered by Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency.
Local rescue leader Muhammad Hariyadi clarified that although Marins didn’t fall into the volcano’s crater, she initially landed about 150 meters down the cliff. Unfortunately, the unstable, sandy ground caused her body to slide further, reaching a depth of 500 meters by Monday.
A total of 50 rescuers were involved in the mission. In light of the incident, Indonesian Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni announced the temporary closure of Mount Rinjani’s hiking trails as a mark of respect and to aid in the evacuation.
This tragic event adds to a string of fatal hiking accidents on the mountain in recent years, including a Malaysian tourist who died in a similar fall just last month.