Juliana Marins
A young woman fell on Mount Rinjani, survived almost four days in terrain, but tragically died; safety concerns and rescue delays spark outrage.

A young woman's attempt at adventure ended in tragedy after she fell from Indonesia's Mount Rinjani and was found dead four days later. Her story has sparked shock and grief across Brazil and questions about the safety measures on the popular but dangerous trail.

Juliana Marins, 26, was hiking near the crater of the active volcano on 21 June 2025, when she slipped and fell from a ridge about 600 metres (approximately 1,968 feet) down the mountain. Her fall was sudden and severe, leaving her stranded in a remote part of the terrain that is notoriously slippery and difficult to navigate.

What Happened In Those Four Days?

Based on reports, it is believed that she initially survived the fall and was seen moving around in drone footage captured by fellow hikers. Witnesses reported she was distressed but appeared to be alive after the fall, sitting in grey soil below the trail. Rescue teams heard her screams for help on the day of the accident but were unable to reach her immediately due to thick fog and treacherous weather conditions.

Over the following days, efforts to locate her were hampered repeatedly. Rescuers descended multiple times, with drone footage confirming her presence in different locations, but the extreme terrain and poor weather slowed their progress. On 23 June, they managed to locate her body beside the crater after descending 600 metres into a ravine, a process that took nearly four days.

The Indonesian authorities confirmed her death on Tuesday, 25 June. A large rescue operation was required to retrieve her body, which was finally brought to a nearby base camp. The bad weather, including persistent fog and dangerous weather conditions, delayed the transport to a hospital for several hours. Roughly 50 people had been involved in the search

Family Response and Announcement

Her family in Brazil expressed their grief through a social media post on an Instagram account dedicated to her rescue, describing her as a lively and adventurous person who had been travelling through Asia.

Marins had been backpacking across Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia since February, with her last journey taking her to Lombok Island.

What We Know of Mount Rinjani

Mount Rinjani, standing at 3,726 metres (12,224 feet), is Indonesia's second-highest volcano and attracts thousands of visitors each year. However, it has a history of fatalities, with recent deaths including a Malaysian tourist just last month. The mountain's steep and unstable terrain often proves hazardous, especially for those unprepared for its challenging conditions.

Questions are now being raised over the safety protocols on the trail, particularly regarding the decision not to close the route after her fall. Her family and many others are calling for better safety measures to prevent similar tragedies. The Indonesian government has yet to comment on whether new restrictions or safety improvements are planned following her death.

Brazil's Foreign Ministry has described her passing as a tragedy, and the country's embassy in Jakarta coordinated closely with Indonesian authorities during the rescue effort. The delay in her recovery has caused anger and frustration, with some in Brazil accusing Indonesian officials of misinformation regarding her status during the rescue. Indonesia has yet to respond to these claims.

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