Brazilian tourist falls into active volcano in Indonesia
- Juliana Marins slipped from a cliff during a guided hike on Mount Rinjani, falling nearly 500 meters.
- Search efforts, involving 50 rescuers and three helicopters, are being hampered by bad weather and steep terrain.
- The search for the Brazilian tourist has entered a critical phase, raising concerns about her condition.
In Indonesia, a search operation is underway for a Brazilian tourist who fell over 1,600 feet down Mount Rinjani, the country's second highest volcano. Juliana Marins, 26, went missing after slipping from a cliff during a guided hike on Saturday morning. The incident occurred near the crater rim of the active volcano on the island of Lombok, where conditions have deteriorated due to bad weather, hindering rescue efforts. As of Tuesday, three helicopters have been dispatched to assist the approximately 50 rescue personnel involved in the operation. The last sighting of Marins revealed she was immobilized, raising concerns amongst the rescue team about her condition. The guide leading the group stated Marins lost her balance at a precarious point on the narrow trail, emphasizing the risks involved in hiking at such locations. Despite challenging conditions and a looming timeline, rescuers are actively searching the steep terrain. Reports indicated that the Brazilian woman's family claimed the guide abandoned Marins at a crucial moment, further complicating the situation. Local officials, however, defended the decision to keep the hiking route open during the search, arguing that closure might impede ongoing rescue activities. This incident has sparked significant concern regarding safety protocols in the area, prompting discussions about emergency response measures for hikers. The search remains a race against time, with hopes diminishing as visibility and weather conditions worsen. Officials expect to gather more information about Juliana Marins as they continue their efforts to locate her, illustrating both the dangers of volcanic hikes and the urgency of effective rescue operations in such perilous terrains.