Following the death of a 27-year-old Brazilian tourist on Lombok’s Mount Rinjani, major concerns have been raised by tourists, the travel sector, and even the Indonesian government regarding the safety of the country’s most popular hiking route.
Lombok, Bali’s neighbouring island, sees markedly fewer tourists than the Island of the Gods, though Mount Rinjani is considered one of the essential bucket list hikes in Indonesia.
The news of the passing of the 27-year-old Brazilian tourist, who is known to the media by her initials JDSP, has devastated many.
The events surrounding her death have led the leaders and the wider community to ask serious questions about whether more could have been done to prevent her death. JDSP had been hiking the 3,726m peak with a guide and five friends.
JDSP is reported to have fallen into a steep ravine on the 21st of June. During her initial fall, she landed 150m from the cliff edge, though when teams attempted further rescue efforts, it was discovered that she kept slipping further down the sandy terrain of the ravine, making it increasingly hard to access her.
This, coupled with adverse weather conditions, made it extremely difficult for the team of fifty Search and Rescue officers to coordinate safe access here.
The fifty-strong search and rescue team included officers from Barsarnas Lombok, the Mount Rinjani National Park Office, the army, the Lombok Police, the Lombok Fire Department, the Lombok Disaster Management Agency, local guides, porters, and Mount Rinjani volunteers.
A statement from the Brazilian government confirmed, “After four days of work, hindered by adverse weather, terrain, and visible conditions in the region, teams from the Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency found the body of the Brazilian tourist.”
A Search and Rescue effort was launched as quickly as possible after the reports of the incident reached the Mataram SAR Team, and JDSP’s exact location was confirmed in the early hours of Monday, 23rd June, though she was confirmed unresponsive by rescuers who were able to get close to her location during initial efforts.
Teams were finally able to reach her at 6 pm on Tuesday, 24th June, when it was confirmed she had passed away. At 7 pm on Tuesday, the Chief of Search and Rescue, Maratam, Lombok, Madya Marshal Mohammad Syafii, confirmed that the recovery of her body would have to be postponed until weather conditions had improved.
Syafli told reporters, “Due to the impossible weather with limited visibility, it was decided that the evacuation of victims will be on Wednesday, 25 June at 6 am.” JDSP’s body has now been released to her family.
In a statement, the Director General of the Indonesian Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation Agency, who oversees the management of the country’s volcanic and mountain peaks, shared his condolences and sadness at the incident.
Satyawan Pudyatmoko told reporters, “On behalf of the Ministry of Forestry, we extend our deepest condolences for the passing of [Marins], a climber from Brazil.”
He added, “Although the team encountered obstacles due to weather and challenging terrain, the evacuation was carried out to the fullest extent, and thankfully it was successfully completed.”
Pudyatmoko urged all hikers to prioritize safety and ensure they are properly equipped before embarking on hikes and walks anywhere in the country.
The incident has hit international headlines and sparked grave concerns for hiking and trekking safety in Indonesia. Questions are also being asked about how such an incident could have occurred and what can be done to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again. JDSP had hired a local guide and was trekking with a group at the time of the fall.
Questions have also been raised about the preparedness and responsiveness of rescue teams to access and support hikers and trekkers on the increasingly popular yet undeniably hazardous climbing routes of Mount Rinjani.
Tourists hiking and trekking in Indonesia’s mountains and volcanoes are urged to be incredibly cautious and reminded that while the country’s most famous hikes are incredibly popular, this does not mean the routes are easy or advisable for inexperienced hikers.
Hikes like Mount Rinjani and Mount Agung are all over 3,000m above sea level and involve steep ascents and treacherous terrain. It is essential to not only hire a local guide but also ensure that all the relevant safety equipment is in place before heading off.
Bali’s famous Mount Batur may be only 1,717m, but it is still no walk in the park. Tourists must ensure that they are both physically fit and suitably experienced in trekking before embarking on any of Indonesia’s climbing routes.
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