Lombok: Rescuers in Indonesia are intensifying their search efforts to locate Juliana Marins, a 26-year-old Brazilian tourist who went missing while hiking near the crater of Mount Rinjani, an active volcano. The search began after Marins reportedly fell from a cliff surrounding the trail adjacent to the volcano's crater.
According to BBC, Brazilian media and Marins' family identified her as part of a hiking group when she vanished around 06:30 local time on Saturday. Despite descending 300 meters to the believed location, rescuers were unable to find her and received no response to their calls. By Sunday morning, drone footage revealed her absence from the initial location, with thick fog hindering rescue operations and the effectiveness of thermal drones.
Efforts to locate Marins resumed on Monday, with rescuers identifying her new location after she appeared to have fallen further. However, adverse climate conditions forced them to halt the search. The team had progressed 250 meters down, with 350 meters remaining to reach Marins, according to updates shared by her family on social media.
Concerns have been raised by Marins' family regarding the park's decision to remain open and allow tourists to continue using the same hiking route while rescue operations are ongoing. They expressed anxiety over her health condition, emphasizing that she has been without water, food, or warm clothing for three days.
Satyawan Pudyatmoko, an official from Indonesia's forestry ministry, explained that the route was kept open as its closure could disrupt the evacuation process. Climbers were cautioned to avoid the evacuation site, with several having made prior bookings and traveling long distances to reach Mount Rinjani.
On Tuesday, the family announced via social media that the rescue operation for Marins had resumed. Interviews with members of Marins' hiking group highlighted the challenges faced during the climb, describing it as difficult with poor visibility and slippery terrain.
The Brazilian foreign ministry stated that it is in contact with the Indonesian government and has dispatched two embassy employees to oversee the rescue efforts. Satyawan emphasized the importance of climbers prioritizing safety during such expeditions.
Mount Rinjani, standing over 3,700 meters tall, is Indonesia's second-highest volcano and a favored destination among tourists. The mountain has witnessed previous incidents, including the deaths of a Portuguese man in 2022 and a Malaysian hiker earlier this year, both due to falls.