Brazilian tourist, Juliana Marins, missing on Indonesian volcano found dead after 4 days of intense rescue efforts

Jakarta: A 26-year-old Brazilian tourist who went missing after falling from a trail on Indonesia’s Mount Rinjani was found dead on Tuesday, following four days of intense rescue efforts.

Juliana Marins, a dancer from Niterói near Rio de Janeiro, had been hiking the 3,726-metre active volcano on Lombok island with a guide and five other foreigners on the morning of 21 June when she slipped and plunged nearly 600 metres down a ravine, according to Indonesian authorities.

Search teams from Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) worked through harsh terrain, heavy fog and unstable weather to locate her, using thermal drones and climbing gear. After days of uncertainty, officials confirmed on Tuesday that no signs of life were found. “No signs of life were found,” said Mohammad Syafii, head of the rescue agency.

Marins’ body was discovered beside a crater and will be moved to a police hospital once weather conditions allow. Evacuation efforts were paused on Tuesday evening due to poor visibility and are expected to resume early Wednesday.

The tragedy captivated millions in Brazil, where citizens flooded social media with prayers and posts as updates from the mountain trickled in. Her family later confirmed her death in a statement shared on Instagram: “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 Brazilian government informs, with deep sadness, the death of the Brazilian tourist Juliana Marins, who had fallen from a cliff surrounding the trail near the crater of Mount Rinjani," the Brazilian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"At the end of four days of work, hindered by adverse weather, terrain, and visibility conditions in the region, teams from the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency found the body of the Brazilian tourist."

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he received the news of Marins' death "with great sadness."

"Our diplomatic and consular services in Indonesia will continue to provide full support to her family at this time of great pain," Lula said in a post on X.

The Foreign Ministry of Brazil described the incident as a tragedy and said the embassy in Jakarta had coordinated closely with Indonesian authorities during the search.

Mount Rinjani, Indonesia’s second-highest peak, is a magnet for trekking enthusiasts but is also known for its steep trails and unpredictable weather. Several hikers have died attempting the climb in recent years, including a Malaysian tourist last month. Following Marins' fall, her family questioned why the trail had not been closed immediately.

Marins had been travelling across Asia since February, visiting the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand before arriving in Indonesia. On Saturday, she began her trek to the summit just before dawn. Reports indicate the trail was slippery, the climb gruelling, and visibility low. According to the BBC, one member of the hiking group told Brazilian media that the conditions were extremely challenging.

Initial drone footage and videos circulating online showed Marins visibly distressed but alive on Saturday, sitting on grey volcanic soil far below the path. Rescuers were able to hear her cries for help that morning and descended about 300 metres into the ravine, but she could not be located and did not respond when called.

By Sunday, she had disappeared from the area where she was last seen, according to park authorities. The presence of thick fog further complicated the deployment of thermal drones. On Monday, rescuers spotted her again, but worsening weather forced them to halt the operation. On Tuesday, a team of 50 rescuers finally reached her body after descending the full 600 metres.

Mohammad Syafii, the head of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, said on Tuesday that Marins’ body would be evacuated on Wednesday morning due to ongoing bad weather conditions. He explained that one of the rescuers had reached her at a depth of 600 metres and found no signs of life. Syafii added that three other rescuers were able to get closer and confirmed that she had died.

An Instagram account run by Marins’ family, which had been providing updates throughout the search and garnered more than 1.5 million followers during the ordeal, said she was found unresponsive on Tuesday. In a statement posted Tuesday evening, the account announced that the rescue team had managed to reach her location and confirmed she had not survived. The family also expressed their gratitude for the prayers, messages and support they had received from people around the world.

In a troubling twist, Brazil’s embassy in Jakarta accused Indonesian officials of initially misleading Marins’ family by claiming she had been found and given food and water. There was no immediate comment from Indonesian authorities in response to the allegation.

(With inputs from AP, AFP)