Rescue Operations Ongoing for Missing Brazilian Tourist on Volcano

Search operations for 26-year-old Juliana Marins highlight the dangers of hiking the region's challenging terrain.

Rescue teams in Indonesia are intensifying their efforts to locate Brazilian tourist Juliana Marins, who disappeared during a hike near the crater of Mount Rinjani, an active volcano. The 26-year-old woman was trekking with a group when she fell off a cliff adjacent to the trail at around 06:30 local time on Saturday. Brazilian media sources and Marins’s family confirmed her identity and the circumstances of her fall.

Authorities have faced significant challenges in their search efforts due to treacherous terrain and inclement weather. Reports indicate that rescuers heard Marins’s cries for help on Saturday, initially reporting that she was alive but appeared to be in shock. Viral drone footage, shared widely on Brazilian news platforms, depicted Marins seated and moving on grey soil, well below the trail. Unfortunately, when rescue teams descended 300 meters to reach her, they found her location empty.

As the fog thickened on Sunday morning, rescue operations were further compromised, with drone inspections revealing that she had shifted further away. By Monday, search efforts resumed, but unfavorable weather conditions forced rescuers to halt their plans just 250 meters from Marins's last known position. Her family expressed urgency via social media, emphasizing the need for immediate aid, stating, "Juliana still has no water, food, or warm clothes for three days!"

The Brazilian foreign ministry is in communication with Indonesian officials and has dispatched embassy personnel to oversee the rescue missions. Team members who hiked alongside Marins described the trek as perilous and difficult, citing rough visibility and cold temperatures during their early morning ascent.

Mount Rinjani, Indonesia's second-highest volcano, stands over 3,700 meters tall and is known for its challenging trails, posing risks to hikers. Tragic incidents in the past include the death of a Portuguese climber in 2022 and a Malaysian hiker earlier this year. As rescue operations continue, officials emphasize the importance of safety for all climbers navigating this hazardous terrain.