After four agonizing days trapped inside one of Indonesia’s most treacherous volcanoes, 26-year-old Brazilian tourist Juliana Marins has passed away.
Her body was finally reached by rescue teams today (June 24), following a desperate and highly criticized effort clouded by conflicting reports, alleged negligence, and fury from her grieving family.
Highlights
- Brazilian hiker Juliana Marins, 26, passed away after being trapped for 4 days inside Indonesia's active Mount Rinjani volcano without rescue.
- Her family alleges abandonment by the guide and fellow hikers after she showed exhaustion during the hike.
- Juliana was discovered by tourists via drone footage, but no coordinated aid or communication followed.
- Public outrage grew over the Brazilian government's lack of timely assistance.
“Today, the rescue team managed to reach the location where Juliana Marins was,” read a heartbreaking post shared by her relatives.
“With immense sadness, we inform you that she did not survive. We remain very grateful for all the prayers, messages of affection and support we have received.”
Tourist trapped inside active volcano in Indonesia was confirmed to have passed away after four days without help
Image credits: resgatejulianamarins
The news comes as a heavy blow to a nation that had been holding its breath since Saturday (June 21), when Juliana—an advertising graduate and backpacker from Niterói—slipped and fell roughly 300 meters while hiking Mount Rinjani.
Her family claims she was abandoned by her guide and fellow hikers after she expressed exhaustion during the second day of the trail.
“Juliana was desperate because no one came back for her, and she fell,” her sister Mariana wrote. “They abandoned Juliana.”
Image credits: resgatejulianamarins
Mount Rinjiani is a popular yet perilous trekking destination located on the island of Lombok. It’s known for its steep slopes, unstable weather, and lack of safety infrastructure.
Juliana had joined a group of five hikers and a local guide when she began showing signs of fatigue. According to Mariana, instead of assisting her, the group continued toward the summit, leaving the 26-year-old behind.
Image credits: ajulianamarins
Juliana was located by chance hours later—not by officials, but by a group of passing tourists who used a drone to capture video of her stranded in a rocky ravine. The footage eventually reached her family in Brazil, and with it came a glimmer of hope that she was still alive.
But their nightmare was just beginning.
Juliana's family blames Brazilian authorities for negligence, accusing them of failing to act on time
Image credits: g1
As the images circulated online, Juliana’s loved ones were bombarded with conflicting reports.
Authorities claimed she had been rescued, received food, water, and warm clothing—but those on the ground told a different story. Her family, desperate for clarity, soon realized that much of the information being released was either inaccurate or outright false.
Image credits: resgatejulianamarins
“We spoke to people at the scene of the incident with Juliana,” Mariana told local outlet Folha de S. Paulo. “The information that the rescue team brought her water, food, and clothing… is not true.”
Videos of her supposed rescue surfaced soon after, but Mariana was quick to denounce them as “forged.”
“All the videos that were made are lies, including the one of the rescue team reaching her. The video was forged to look like that,” she argued.
Image credits: g1
Brazilian netizens were left heartbroken after footage taken by tourists depicted Juliana alone, injured and visibly distressed. However, no coordinated effort to bring her supplies or communicate with her followed, causing many to point fingers at local authorities, and the Brazilian Embassy in Jakarta.
Netizens are calling for sweeping reforms, insisting that a tragedy like Juliana’s must never happen again
Image credits: prediumreformas
By Sunday, hope had turned into desperation and anger as the family was informed that the search had been suspended temporarily due to fog and inclement weather.
Juliana’s father, Manoel Marins, directed his frustrations towards the Brazilian government during an interview with TV Globo.
“The embassy is not providing any support. The Brazilian government is not helping us either,” he said. “This is very sad and very serious. She is a 26-year-old girl, a Brazilian citizen, and no one aside from family and friends cares.”
Image credits: ajulianamarins
Online, his outrage was mirrored.
“The Brazilian government sent a military jet to retrieve a woman convicted of corruption in Peru,” a user wrote. “But they TOTALLY NEGLECTED a young woman needing urgent help in Indonesia.”
“They do nothing but write with the same PR lines: ‘We are in contact with local authorities.’ Four to five days waiting. She didn’t survive,” another added.
Image credits: ajulianamarins
Juliana had documented her trip to Asia since February. She managed to visit the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand before arriving in Indonesia. With hope and optimism, she shared her journey with friends and family—never imagining it would end in tragedy.
Image credits: resgatejulianamarins
“Juliana didn’t do anything wrong,” one commenter wrote. “She was living her dream and trusted that she was safe. What took her life her wasn’t the fall—it was the lack of rescue, lies, and negligence.”
Now, as her loved ones mourn, many are calling for sweeping reforms to Indonesia’s rescue protocols, safety measures in Mount Rinjiani, and accountability from Brazilian authorities.
“There must be justice for this level of neglect,” a local netizen wrote. “This cannot happen again.”
"Outrageous." Netizens around the world sympathized with Juliana's family
