Mount Rinjani tragedy puts spotlight on Indonesia’s adventure tourism safety

The death of Brazilian climber Juliana Marins follows a string of accidents at some of Indonesia’s most popular natural attractions

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Rescue workers attempt to reach Juliana Marins, a Brazilian tourist who fell into a ravine on Mount Rinjani, Lombok island, on June 21. Her body was spotted by drone and later recovered after days of search efforts hampered by bad weather and rough terrain. Photo: Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency / AFP

Published: 8:40pm, 26 Jun 2025Updated: 8:52pm, 26 Jun 2025

The death of a Brazilian woman who fell while climbing a volcano in Indonesia has renewed scrutiny of safety standards at the country’s adventure tourism hotspots, amid a string of recent accidents involving foreign visitors.

Juliana Marins, 26, fell some 600 metres (1,968 feet) while attempting to summit Mount Rinjani, a volcano on Lombok island, on Saturday. Her body was only recovered four days later after rescue efforts were hampered by dense fog, steep cliffs and unstable terrain.

The incident, which drew widespread attention in Brazil and on social media, is among several recent fatalities that have prompted calls for improved risk management at Indonesia’s ecotourism destinations.

Mount Rinjani, one of Indonesia’s most popular trekking destinations, has seen several serious accidents in the past year.

In May, a Malaysian tourist died after falling into a ravine. In late September, climbers near the summit required rescue after a severe fall, followed days later by a Russian man who fell 200 metres while climbing illegally and sustained severe injuries.

Juliana Marins, 26, was climbing Mount Rinjani on Lombok island on June 21, 2025, when she fell about 600 metres. Her body was found four days later. Photo: Instagram / ajulianamarins

Marins’ family expressed frustration over the pace of rescue efforts, claiming she could have survived if help had reached her sooner.

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