JAKARTA, Indonesia (BN24) — A 26-year-old Brazilian tourist who plunged nearly 600 meters from the ridge of Mount Rinjani, one of Indonesia’s highest and most active volcanoes, was found dead Tuesday after nearly four days of intensive search efforts, Brazilian and Indonesian authorities confirmed.
Juliana Marins, a dancer and avid traveler from Niterói, near Rio de Janeiro, had been hiking Mount Rinjani on the island of Lombok on June 21 with a local guide and five other foreign tourists when she fell from a ridge into a steep crater, according to Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency.
“No signs of life were found,” said agency head Mohammad Syafii. He confirmed that rescuers located Marins’ body using thermal drone technology in an area made treacherous by rugged terrain and poor weather. Her body was retrieved beside the volcano’s crater after days of grueling efforts.
Due to difficult visibility and extreme conditions, evacuation of her remains was delayed. Rescue crews began the arduous descent toward Sembalun base camp late Tuesday, but transportation to a police hospital was postponed until Wednesday.
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry described the incident as a tragedy and noted that the Brazilian embassy in Jakarta had been working closely with Indonesian authorities during the search. Marins’ family also confirmed her death and expressed gratitude to supporters across Brazil who had followed the dramatic rescue effort online.
The case gripped the South American nation, where millions watched and shared updates on social media. Marins had been chronicling her months-long solo backpacking trip across Asia, which included stops in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand before she arrived in Indonesia.
Controversy briefly surrounded the rescue effort after Brazil’s embassy in Jakarta accused Indonesian officials of prematurely informing Marins’ family that she had been found alive and was receiving aid. Brazilian diplomats claimed this misinformation had caused “emotional distress.” Indonesian authorities did not immediately respond to the accusation.
Mount Rinjani, which stands at 3,726 meters (12,224 feet), is the second-highest volcano in Indonesia and a popular destination for trekkers. The volcano, located east of Bali, is known for its dramatic ridgelines, caldera lake, and unstable weather—factors that compounded the challenge for search teams.
In a heartfelt message posted to Instagram, Marins’ family thanked the global community for their prayers and solidarity during the ordeal.
“She was full of dreams and passion for life,” the family wrote. “We are devastated, but we are also proud of the light she spread.”
Authorities have not publicly stated when Marins died.
