Brazilian tourist trapped 500 m (1 640 feet) deep inside Mount Rinjani crater for over 72 hours, Indonesia
A 26-year-old Brazilian tourist is trapped inside the crater of Mount Rinjani, an active volcano in Indonesia, since 06:30 local time (LT) on June 21, 2025, after falling approximately 500 m (1 640 feet) into a steep ravine near the crater rim. Rescue operations are still in progress.
A 26-year-old Brazilian national fell from a trail near the crater rim of Mount Rinjani, an active stratovolcano on the island of Lombok, at approximately 06:30 LT on June 21. The tourist plunged around 500 m (1 640 feet) down a narrow ravine and remains trapped on a ledge within the volcano’s steep inner walls.
The incident occurred on the trail between Cemara Nunggal and the Segara Anak crater lake, a popular but hazardous section of the Rinjani caldera trekking route. Initial drone searches showed her moving, and park officials reported hearing her calling for help from a small rocky outcrop on June 21. Since then, supplies such as food and water have been air-dropped via drone.
Rescue teams, composed of local search and rescue (SAR) personnel and assisted by two veteran Indonesian mountaineers, have made repeated attempts to reach the location. However, efforts have been hindered by the extreme verticality of the terrain, dense fog, overhanging cliffs preventing rope anchoring, and shifting weather conditions. Helicopter access has been deemed unfeasible due to wind shear and cloud cover.
She was no longer at her original location on June 22, and by June 23, the authorities were able to locate her again, but had to retreat because of bad weather.
The Mount Rinjani National Park authority confirmed that as of June 24, teams had only descended approximately 300 m (980 feet) before being forced to suspend operations. Rescue climbers plan to resume attempts using additional rigging equipment.
According to family members, who have traveled to Lombok and are coordinating with the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, progress has been slow. The family has publicly criticized the ongoing tourist access to the route and expressed concerns about rescue capacity.
They have confirmed that on June 23, two experienced mountaineers from the area were confirmed to be en route to the site of the fall. It is not confirmed whether operations will continue through the night, but backup personnel with specialized equipment are in place to assist crews already at the scene.
Mount Rinjani is an active stratovolcano with a summit elevation of 3 726 m (12 224 feet). While the volcano is not currently erupting, its topography is hazardous. The incident occurred within the volcano’s crater system.
The tourist has now been in the crater for more than 72 hours without shelter. Conditions remain cold and foggy, making rescue efforts challenging.
Featured image credit: Wikimedia Commons/Massew64
Reet is a science journalist and researcher with a keen focus on extreme weather, space phenomena, and climate-related issues. With a strong foundation in astronomy and a history of environmental activism, she approaches every story with a sharp scientific lens and a deep sense of purpose. Driven by a lifelong love for writing, and a curiosity about the universe, Reet brings urgency and insight to some of the most important scientific developments of our time.
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