What began as a dream hike up one of Indonesia’s most scenic volcanoes quickly unraveled into a desperate fight against time, nature, and limited resources, with the eyes of two nations watching and waiting for a rescue that came too late.
Brazilian hiker Juliana Marins, 26, has been confirmed dead after falling from a cliff while hiking on Mount Rinjani, a 3,726-meter (12,224 ft) volcano on Indonesia’s Lombok Island. Her body was recovered following a four-day search and rescue operation that was hindered by treacherous terrain, unstable weather, and limited visibility.
Marins had been on a tourist hike near Cemara Nunggal, a steep and remote section of the trail to the summit when the accident occurred. She had been hiking with a group when she vanished. According to a video report by the New York Post, she fell from a cliff that borders the trail and plunged into the volcano’s crater.
However, in a clarification provided to Reuters, Muhammad Hariyadi, head of the local rescue team, confirmed that while Marins did fall from a cliff on the mountain, she did not fall into the volcano’s crater. He added that the retrieval of her body was complicated by the area’s soft, unstable sand, which made rope-based rescue techniques especially dangerous.
According to the Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency, she was located early Monday morning, June 23, 2025, at around 6:30 a.m. local time using a drone. She was found motionless on a rocky cliff face, approximately 500 meters below the trail.
Rescue teams had descended 250 meters but were forced to halt due to large overhangs and a lack of safe anchor points, making the use of ropes dangerous and requiring technical climbing. Despite the challenging conditions, authorities remained committed to the mission.
At 2:30 p.m. on Monday, the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara held an emergency Zoom meeting, urging faster evacuation efforts, including the deployment of a helicopter. However, volatile weather and the need for a specialized hoist system limited that option. The team was eventually forced to temporarily retreat due to safety concerns.
According to BBC, park officials reported hearing Marins’s cries for help on Saturday, June 21, 2025, indicating she was still alive at that point, although she appeared to be in shock. Drone footage and videos recorded by other hikers showed her sitting and moving on grey soil far below the trail. Rescue climbers reached her with food and water after 16 hours, but were unable to bring her up.
“Another day without a rescue! The park continues as usual. Tourists are still hiking the trail while Juliana is IN DESPERATE NEED OF HELP! We don’t know her health condition. She’s been without water, food or warm clothing for three days!!! We need help, please! We need a rescue for Juliana,” read a desperate post from her family as the wait grew longer.
By Sunday, rescuers could no longer locate her at the same spot. The dense fog affected visibility and grounded thermal drones. When she was found again on Monday, she had apparently fallen even farther down the mountain.
In an interview with UOL, Marins’s relative Mariana Marins said the rescue was slow and under-resourced, “They started the rescue with precarious materials, little ropes, and everything. They have already descended 250 meters, but there are still 350 meters to go until Juliana.” She added, “This has been very difficult and complicated for us.”
The Brazilian Embassy in Jakarta was in constant contact with local authorities and Marins’s family throughout the rescue effort. They worked at the highest levels to support the search and are now assisting in the repatriation of her remains.
A statement released by the family on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, on Instagram confirmed her death. The post, when translated, reads, “Today, the rescue teams managed to reach the location where Juliana Marins was. With immense sadness, we inform you that she did not survive. We remain deeply grateful for all the prayers, messages of affection, and support we have received.”
Brazilian authorities also issued an official statement expressing their sorrow and extending condolences to Juliana’s family and friends. Marins, who was from Niterói, Brazil, had been traveling in Indonesia on a personal adventure. Her passion for nature and exploration was evident to all who knew her.
Her tragic death has sparked an outpouring of grief and concern online, both in Brazil and internationally, as many called for improvements in emergency protocols for international hikers in remote areas.
