A heartbreaking tragedy has struck the family and friends of Juliana Marins, a 26-year-old Brazilian woman who died after being trapped inside an active volcano in Indonesia for four days.

Juliana had been trekking toward the summit of Mount Rinjani, a popular yet treacherous hiking destination on the island of Lombok, when disaster struck in the early hours of Saturday, June 21. According to reports, she was hiking with a guide when she requested a short break. The group, however, allegedly continued without her. When the guide eventually returned, Juliana had vanished — having fallen from a cliff near Cemara Nunggal.

Despite a desperate rescue operation, her death has now been confirmed by both her family and officials.

"With great sadness, we inform you that she did not survive," a family statement read. "Today, the rescue team managed to reach the place where Juliana was. We remain very grateful for all the prayers, messages of affection, and support we have received."

A Nation Mourns

Tereza Cristina, a member of Brazil's Federal Senate, echoed the country's grief on Twitter:

“All of Brazil cheered and prayed that the rescue would arrive in time to save the young woman from Niterói, Juliana Marins. Sadly, they couldn’t save her. Very sad. Our condolences to her family and friends.”

She also called for action from the Brazilian government, urging Itamaraty to demand a thorough investigation in Indonesia and accountability for what she referred to as Juliana being "left behind twice — on the trail, and after her fall."

Juliana’s sister, Marianna, revealed more about the harrowing situation, stating that Juliana was left unsure of what to do after losing sight of her guide.

“She didn’t know where to go. When the guide finally came back because she was taking too long, he saw she had already fallen,” Marianna explained.

Difficult Conditions and a Failed Rescue

Mount Rinjani is known for its steep terrain and unpredictable weather. Fellow hikers have described the ascent as “extremely difficult,” especially before sunrise. One hiker told Brazilian network Globo, “It was really early, with almost no visibility. We only had a small lantern, and the ground was slippery and hard to navigate.”

Before her death was confirmed, Gunung Rinjani National Park issued a statement detailing the challenging rescue conditions. Using drones, rescuers located Juliana motionless on a rock cliff, 500 meters down. An initial attempt to reach her was abandoned after two overhangs made it impossible to anchor ropes safely.

“Two rescuers were deployed to check a second anchor point at 350 meters,” the park wrote on Facebook. “However, due to poor weather and terrain challenges, the rescue team was unable to proceed.”

The effort was ultimately called off due to unsafe conditions — a devastating conclusion for a family that had been holding onto hope.

Juliana had been traveling across Asia, sharing her journey on social media. Her adventurous spirit, warm personality, and love of nature left a mark on those who followed her path.

She may have been thousands of miles from home, but in her final days, the world was watching, praying, and hoping alongside her family. Though she was lost, she will not be forgotten.