Rescue teams face treacherous weather while Brazilian authorities coordinate efforts to find Juliana Marins, as concerns about her wellbeing grow.
**Search for Missing Brazilian Tourist on Mount Rinjani Intensifies**
**Search for Missing Brazilian Tourist on Mount Rinjani Intensifies**
Efforts continue amidst challenging conditions to locate a 26-year-old hiker who vanished near the volcano’s summit.
Rescue efforts are ongoing for a 26-year-old Brazilian tourist, identified as Juliana Marins, after she fell during a hiking expedition near Mount Rinjani, an active volcano in Indonesia. Reports indicate that Marins went missing around 06:30 local time on Saturday while hiking with a group. Brazilian officials revealed that she fell from a cliff adjacent to the volcano's crater, prompting a search-and-rescue operation.
Initial attempts to locate Marins were hindered by adverse weather and the rugged terrain, according to local authorities. However, park officials disclosed that they heard her screams for help, indicating that she was alive, albeit potentially in shock. Online footage captured by fellow hikers suggested that she was mobile and seated in a grey area of soil, separated from the established trail.
Despite the hopeful signs, subsequent rescuers were unable to reach her location after descending nearly 300 meters (984 feet), as they did not receive any response during their calls. On the following day, drones revealed she had moved from her previous position, but thick fog made rescue efforts increasingly difficult. By Monday, rescuers had pinpointed her whereabouts again but were forced to cease operations due to worsening conditions.
Her family expressed concern and frustration on social media, emphasizing that they were unaware of her current state, with claims she lacked essential supplies such as food and warm clothing for three days, while the park remained open to other trekkers.
Witnesses from Marins’s group described the hiking environment as particularly challenging, with one noting the early morning temperatures and poor visibility. The Brazilian foreign ministry stated that they are in contact with Indonesian officials, with diplomats dispatched to assist in the rescue.
Mount Rinjani, towering over 3,700 meters, is Indonesia's second-highest volcano and a popular but risky hiking destination. Past incidents, including the deaths of an earlier climber in 2022 and another this year, underline the hazards of hiking in the region. Indonesian forestry ministry officials have urged climbers to prioritize safety on the trails.
