Brazilian Backpacker Fell Into Indonesian Volcano. Drone Caught Her Alive Before This Happened

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Last Updated: June 24, 2025, 21:44 IST

Local authorities spotted Marins on Monday, but the rescue operations were held back due to bad weather

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A Brazilian tourist, who fell down a ravine near an active volcano during a hike in Indonesia, was found dead. 26-year-old Juliana Marins went missing on Saturday at Mount Rinjani on Lombok island near scenic beaches and mountains of Bali.

26-year-old Juliana Marins went missing on Saturday at Mount Rinjani on Lombok island near scenic beaches and mountains of Bali. (Photo: zellieimani)

Although early reports from park officials and drone footage indicated she was alive — with sightings of her moving and calls for help — rescue teams faced significant challenges in reaching her because of dense fog, hazardous terrain, and deteriorating weather conditions, Independent reported.

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Local authorities spotted Marins on Monday, but the rescue operations were held back due to bad weather. In a statement, Brazil’s government confirmed that Marins’ body has been found by rescuers.

Marins fell off a cliff on the mountain, but not into the volcano crater, while noting that the soft sand in the area made it difficult to retrieve her using ropes, head of local rescuers Muhammad Hariyadi had told Reuters earlier in the day.

Marins’ sister Marianna had said that the 26-year-old was “abandoned” by her hiking guide. Marins had been hiking with a small group on Mount Rinjani when she reportedly requested a break. However, according to Marianna Marins, who spoke to Brazil’s Fantástico TV, the local guide allegedly decided to proceed without her.

Marianna said that her sister didn’t know where to go or what to do. When the guide eventually returned after noticing her delay, he found that she had fallen, Marianna added.

Who Is Juliana Marins?

Marins, a publicist from Niterói near Rio de Janeiro, had been chronicling her backpacking journey across Southeast Asia on Instagram, posting photos from destinations such as Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

Where is Mount Rinjani?

Mount Rinjani, standing at 3,726 meters above sea level, is the second-highest volcano in Indonesia. It is situated in the West Nusa Tenggara province on Lombok Island, just a short ferry ride from Bali. As an active volcano, it attracts many tourists visiting the Southeast Asian archipelago.

According to Rinjani National Park’s website, the earliest documented eruption occurred in 1847. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Location : Indonesia

First Published: June 24, 2025, 21:39 IST

✕ Close Rescue teams rush to save Brazilian tourist who fell into active Indonesian volcano

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A Brazilian tourist who vanished after falling during a hike near an active volcano in Indonesia has been found dead, the country’s government has confirmed.

Juliana Marins, 26, was last seen early Saturday morning when she slipped from a cliff edge bordering the hiking trail.

Despite initial signs of life – including screams for help reported by park officials and drone footage showing her conscious and moving – teams struggled to reach her due to fog, treacherous terrain and worsening weather.

“After four days of work, hindered by adverse weather, terrain and visibility conditions in the region, teams from Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency found the body of the Brazilian tourist,” Brazil’s government said in a statement.

Head of local rescuers Muhammad Hariyadi had told Reuters earlier in the day that Marins fell off a cliff on the mountain but not into the volcano crater, while noting that the soft sand in the area made it difficult to retrieve her using ropes

Rescuers preparing a drone to use in a rescue operation for Brazilian tourist who fell while hiking Mount Rinjani on June 23. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Brazilian tourist found dead in Indonesia after four days on volcano cliff

JAKARTA/SAO PAULO – A Brazilian woman who fell off a cliff while hiking around Indonesia’s second-highest volcano over the weekend was found dead on June 24, Brazil’s government said, following days of rescue efforts hampered by adverse weather conditions.

Ms Juliana Marins, 27, was hiking with five friends on Mount Rinjani on June 21 when she slipped and fell off a cliff on the side of the 3,726m mountain, according to Indonesian authorities.

Located in West Nusa Tenggara province, the active volcano is a popular tourist site in the South-east Asian archipelago.

“After four days of work, hindered by adverse weather, terrain and visibility conditions in the region, teams from Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency found the body of the Brazilian tourist,” Brazil’s government said in a statement.

Head of local rescuers Muhammad Hariyadi had told Reuters earlier in the day that Ms Marins fell off a cliff on the mountain but not into the volcano crater, while noting that the soft sand in the area made it difficult to retrieve her using ropes.

Rescuers preparing for a rescue operation for a Brazilian tourist who fell while hiking on Mount Rinjani on June 24. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Fifty people were involved in the rescue.

Mr Hariyadi said Ms Marins, who was initially located on June 21, had slipped farther on the sandy terrain of the cliff face. She was at a depth of 150m when first discovered, but had slipped to 500m by June 23 morning.

Indonesian Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said in a statement that the Mount Rinjani hiking track would be closed to ease the evacuation effort and out of respect to Ms Marins and her family.

Several tourists, including foreigners, have died in accidents while hiking the volcano over the past few years, according to local media reports, including a Malaysian tourist who also fell off a cliff in May. REUTERS

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A Brazil national who was trapped deep inside an active volcano for four days has died before she could be rescued, her family has confirmed.

In the early hours of Saturday morning (June 21), Juliana Marins, 26, fell from a cliff near Cemara Nunggal en route to the peak of Mount Rinjani in Indonesia. The volcano is active, having last erupted in 2016.

Juliana is said to have been on a hike with a guide when the incident occurred, as she reportedly asked the guide for a break. However, the group allegedly carried on without her, and when the guide returned, they found Juliana had fallen down the cliff.

Now, it has been confirmed the hiker has tragically lost her life.

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Tereza Cristina, a member of the Brazilian Federal Senate, penned on Twitter: “The entire Brazil cheered and prayed that the rescue would arrive in time to save the young woman from Niterói, Juliana Marins, alive. Unfortunately, they could not save her. Very sad.

Mount Rinjani is a popular hiking spot (Getty Stock Photo)

“Our condolences to her family and friends.

“And may the Brazilian government, through Itamaraty, demand an investigation of the facts and the punishment of those responsible in Indonesia. In practice, Juliana was left behind twice: on the dangerous trail and after she fell off the cliff.”

A social media post from Juliana’s family also confirmed the hiker had died.

It reads: “Today, the rescue team managed to reach the place where Juliana Marins was. 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.”

Marianna, the hiker’s sister, previously claimed Juliana did not know where to go after losing sight of her guide.

“She didn’t know what to do. When the guide came back because he saw that she was taking too long, he saw that she had fallen down there,” the sibling said.

Juliana Marins has been traveling through Asia (Instagram/@ajulianamarins)

Meanwhile, other hikers described the climb as ‘really hard’, with one man recalling on the Brazlian TV network Globo: “It was really early, before sunrise, in bad visibility conditions with just a simple lantern to light up the terrain which was difficult and slippery.”

Prior to confirmation that Juliana had died, Gunung Rinjani National Park said in a Facebook statement that the young woman had been ‘successfully monitored using a drone, in a position stuck on a rock cliff at a depth of 500 meters and visually motionless’.

The park added: “Two rescue personnel were deployed to reach the victim’s location and check the second anchor point at a depth of 350m (1,140 ft). However, after observation, two large overhangs were found before reaching the victim, making it impossible to install the anchor. The rescue team had to climb to reach the victim.”

The operation was ultimately abandoned due to poor weather conditions.

A hiker who was trapped deep inside an active volcano for four days tragically died before she could be rescued, family members have confirmed.

Juliana Marins, 26, from Brazil, was with a group on Saturday (21 June) and hiking near the active volcano Mount Rinjani, on the island of Lombok in Indonesia, when she fell off a ‘cliff’.

Rescuers heard her screams for help and drone footage spotted her still alive in a crater, but when a team went out to retrieve her, they could no longer find her.

In the latest update, it has been reported that the hiker has sadly died of her injuries.

A social media post from her family read: “Today, the rescue team managed to reach the place where Juliana Marins was.

“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.”

Juliana Marins had been hiking at Mount Rinjani in Indonesia (Getty Stock Image)

Meanwhile, Juliana’s death has been confirmed by Brazilian former minister Tereza Critsina, who wrote on X [translated]: “The entire Brazil cheered and prayed that the rescue would arrive in time to save the young woman from Niterói, Juliana Marins, alive.

“Unfortunately, they could not save her. Very sad. Our condolences to her family and friends.

“And may the Brazilian government, through Itamaraty, demand an investigation of the facts and the punishment of those responsible in Indonesia. In practice, Juliana was left behind twice: on the dangerous trail and after she fell off the cliff.”

Juliana had been hiking on Saturday when she became trapped (Instagram/@ajulianamarins)

The trekking company Visit Mount Rinjani released a statement earlier this week, confirming that a hiker fell from the trail and said it was waiting for news from authorities of Juliana’s condition.

It said: “It has been two days since the incident of a hiker falling on the summit trail of Mount Rinjani. The desperate cries for help heard at the scene still echo in the minds of many and have drawn deep sympathy.

“As of now, we are still waiting for an official statement from the authorities and the rescue team, who continue to work in challenging conditions.

“We sincerely hope the search efforts lead to positive news and that the hiker is found safe.”

Juliana’s family confirmed the devastating news (Instagram/@ajulianamarins)

Nikolas Osman, a spokesman for the East Lombok Police, also added: “While heading to the summit of Rinjani on the way to the Cemara Tunggal area, the victim experienced fatigue and the guide at that time advised her to rest.

“Then the five guests in the tour group were taken by the guide to continue the journey.

“However, by the time he returned to fetch her, the Brazilian woman was already missing.”

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@ajulianamarins

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