Juliana Marins, a 27-year-old hiker from Brazil who fell into a deep ravine on Mount Rinjani in Indonesia, has been found dead after a harrowing four-day search-and-rescue operation that drew international attention and online uproar. Her body was discovered on Tuesday evening, 24 June 2025, at a depth of approximately 600 meters, according to the Mataram Search and Rescue Agency (SAR).
“After an initial examination, there were no signs of life,” said Muhamad Hariyadi, head of the Mataram SAR office. Three additional SAR personnel descended the ravine to confirm the death and prepare the body for evacuation.
Due to dangerous terrain and limited visibility, the team postponed retrieval until the next morning. Seven personnel conducted a flying camp operation overnight, with teams stationed at both the 400-meter anchor point and alongside the victim at 600 meters. The body was scheduled to be lifted to the last known position (LKP) before being carried down the Sembalun hiking route to a base post, and then transported by helicopter to Bhayangkara Police Hospital in West Nusa Tenggara for further handling.
Viral Drone Footage and Mounting Public Pressure
Marins fell on the morning of Saturday, 21 June, while ascending the challenging Cemara Nunggal trail toward Rinjani’s summit. The area is known for steep, rocky terrain and unpredictable weather. Around 06.30 WITA, she became separated from her group. Hours later, drone footage captured by a Spanish tourist showed her alive, sitting and moving on a grey, ashy slope roughly 300 meters below the trail. The footage quickly went viral in Brazil, sparking hope and growing anger over the pace of the rescue.
Although SAR teams were dispatched swiftly and descended 300 meters that same day, they were unable to locate her due to thick fog and hazardous conditions. By Sunday, updated drone footage showed she was no longer at the initial site—she had likely slipped further. Thermal imaging on Monday, 23 June, detected her again, this time motionless at a depth of about 500 meters.
Online Backlash and Pleas for Action
The delay in rescuing Marins ignited fierce debate online. Thousands of Brazilian netizens flooded the Instagram accounts of President Prabowo Subianto and Indonesia’s Mount Rinjani National Park, urging immediate action.
“Please save Juliana. She is cold, hungry, likely injured, and helpless,” read one of many comments in Portuguese. “Do everything you can. God sees what you do.”
Her family also launched a dedicated Instagram account, amassing over 400.000 followers, to campaign for her rescue. “She’s been three days without food, water, or warm clothes,” they wrote, adding gratitude for the rescuers’ efforts under extreme conditions.
Indonesian netizens and officials defended the operation, citing the terrain’s vertical cliffs, dense fog, and two large overhangs that made anchor placement and descent nearly impossible. “This isn’t about willingness but about conditions,” one user wrote. “A 500-meter cliff in bad weather is no joke.”
Government Response and Rescue Constraints
The Indonesian government coordinated at the national and regional levels. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni and NTB Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal held emergency meetings, including via Zoom, to explore the feasibility of helicopter airlifts. A chopper from mining company PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara was put on standby, but officials noted that a successful aerial rescue required not only clear weather but also specialized aircraft with hoisting capabilities.
Rescue teams from Basarnas’ elite vertical unit, Basarnas Special Group (BSG), were deployed with ropes and climbing gear. Still, the combination of unstable terrain, dynamic weather, and fading visibility meant that any rapid extraction attempt risked more lives.
Investigation and Aftermath
The family has contacted Brazil’s embassy in Jakarta and is pressing for answers from the hiking tour company that organized the expedition. Mount Rinjani National Park authorities have closed the Sembalun trail since 24 June to focus on the ongoing recovery.
Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana expressed condolences and announced plans to review safety protocols at extreme destinations across Indonesia.
