Rescuers continue their search for Brazilian tourist Juliana Marins, who went missing during a hike on Mount Rinjani. Despite challenging conditions, family and officials emphasize the urgency of locating her as search operations proceed amid adverse weather.
Search Efforts Intensify for Missing Brazilian Tourist on Mount Rinjani
Search Efforts Intensify for Missing Brazilian Tourist on Mount Rinjani
Agencies and families collaborate in a frantic search for 26-year-old Juliana Marins, who disappeared while hiking in challenging conditions on the active Indonesian volcano.
Rescuers in Indonesia are ramping up search efforts for a Brazilian tourist, Juliana Marins, who vanished while hiking near the crater of Mount Rinjani, one of the country's most renowned yet perilous volcanoes. The 26-year-old was reportedly part of a group when she fell into a ravine around 06:30 local time on Saturday (23:30 GMT Friday).
According to Brazilian media and family sources, Marins fell from a steep cliff adjacent to the hiking trail. Authorities have faced significant challenges during the search operation, primarily due to treacherous terrain and limited visibility caused by fog. Initial reports from rescuers indicated they heard her screams for help, suggesting she was alive but severely shaken.
Drone footage released on social media and by Brazilian news outlets showed Marins moving in the grey soil below the hiking path, sparking hope among her loved ones. However, the situation took a turn for the worse when rescuers, despite their best efforts, were unable to locate her upon descending nearly 300 meters to her last known position. The absence of her response on subsequent calls raised concern among authorities and her family.
Rescue attempts resumed on Monday, with renewed urgency as family members voiced their fears for Marins’ wellbeing, highlighting that she had been without food, water, or warm clothing for several days. They criticized park officials for keeping the hiking route open despite ongoing search operations, expressing how difficult it was to comprehend that tourists continued to venture into the area while their loved one was missing.
Satyawan Pudyatmoko, an official from Indonesia's forestry ministry, clarified that the decision to keep the trail open stemmed from an assessment that doing so would not interfere with the rescue efforts. However, they did provide warnings to climbers about avoiding the evacuation area.
Compounding the urgency of the situation, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry has been in contact with Indonesian authorities, sending embassy staff to oversee the unfolding rescue efforts. Past incidents on Mount Rinjani, including previous fatalities, underscore the potential dangers associated with hiking the volcano, raising alarm about safety protocols for climbers.
In the latest updates from Marins' family on social media, they confirmed the resumption of rescue operations, reiterating the dire need to locate her and bring her to safety. Mount Rinjani stands at over 3,700 meters and is both a sought-after destination for tourists and a hazardous environment for climbers.
