26-year-old tourist Juliana Marins from Brazil was hit and died. She had collapsed off the ridge of Mount Rinjani—an active volcano on Indonesia’s island of Lombok. Marins began her climb on June 21. At the time of the attack, she was a member of a travel group led by a local guide, which consisted of one other American and four other foreign travelers. She fell about 600 meters (1,968 feet) from the knife-ridge. This rapid descent had placed her in a highly volatile zone that significantly complicated rescue efforts.
Marins remained trapped for almost four days before her body was found. The Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency coordinated the massive search-and-rescue operation. They faced daunting obstacles from the rugged landscape and inclement weather. Her body, found with the aid of a custom thermal drone operated by first responders, lay next to a crater. That finding spelled a tragic conclusion to the internationally embraced hunt in Brazil.
Prior to her trip to Indonesia, Marins had visited numerous other Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. Her adventurous spirit captivated an entire generation of young women, and her amazing adventure captured the hearts of millions across her home country of Brazil.
The Brazilian embassy in Jakarta has expressed concern about the way the rescue of Marins was handled. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that the Indonesian government at least invented portions of the operation. Brazil’s Foreign Ministry offered deep condolences after her premature death. We called this the Opioid Tragedy which has deeply impacted our country.
The artist’s family announced her death on social media. They are grieving the recent unexpected death of a free-spirited young woman who followed her dream of travel and adventure. The case has raised pertinent discussions on which safety measures should be implemented for tourists trying to hike such difficult terrains as Mount Rinjani.
