A 26-year-old Brazilian tourist, who fell nearly 600 meters from the ridge of Indonesia’s Mount Rinjani during a trek last week, was found dead after nearly four days of intensive search efforts, Brazil’s government confirmed on Tuesday.
Juliana Marins, a dancer from Niterói, near Rio de Janeiro, had been travelling solo across Asia since February. On June 21, she joined five other foreigners and a local guide to summit Mount Rinjani — an active 3,726-meter (12,224-foot) volcano on the island of Lombok — when she reportedly slipped and plunged into a steep crater.
Millions in Brazil closely followed the unfolding drama online, posting prayers and messages of hope as Indonesian authorities launched a difficult rescue operation amid treacherous terrain and poor weather.
“No signs of life were found,” said Mohammad Syafii, head of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency. Marins’ body was eventually located beside a crater using a thermal drone, Syafii confirmed.
The terrain proved too harsh to evacuate her immediately, and rescuers had to carry her body on foot to the Sembalun basecamp. The transfer to a police hospital was expected to be completed on Wednesday.
In this photo made from video released by Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, rescuers put the body of Juliana Marins, a Brazilian hiker who fell hundreds of meters from the ridge of a Mount Rinjani and was trapped there for days, into an ambulance on the island of Lombok, Indonesia. (BASARNAS via AP)
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry described her death as a “tragedy” and said the country’s embassy in Jakarta had worked with local authorities during the rescue attempt.
Adding to the heartbreak, Brazil’s embassy in Jakarta accused Indonesian authorities of “fabricating” details during the rescue and allegedly misleading the family. The embassy claimed Indonesian officials had initially said Marins had been found alive and received food and water — hours after her fall — a claim later proven false. There has been no public response from the Indonesian government regarding the accusation.
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Mount Rinjani, Indonesia’s second-tallest peak, is a popular destination among trekkers and tourists. It sits east of Jakarta, near the resort island of Bali.
In an Instagram post, Marins’ family thanked the Brazilian public for their prayers and support throughout the ordeal.
Marins had travelled to the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand before reaching Indonesia, her family said.
(With Inputs from Associated Press)
