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Straits Times
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Indonesia's Mount Rinjani rescue protocols under review after Brazilian tourist's death
JAKARTA - The House of Representatives and the West Nusa Tenggara administration have announced plans to review hiking procedures and search-and-rescue protocols on Mount Rinjani, following the failed attempt to rescue a Brazilian tourist who fell while climbing the volcano. House Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said lawmakers would soon hold a hearing with relevant agencies to evaluate the incident, which has drawn international attention and sparked a strong online backlash in Brazil. 'We have instructed lawmakers from the relevant commission to visit Mount Rinjani and provide recommendations to the government regarding the accident,' Mr Dasco said on June 26, as quoted by However, he did not provide details on the timeline of the hearing or specify which commission would lead the process. Similarly, West Nusa Tenggara Deputy Governor Indah Dhamayanti Putri said the provincial government would review regulations related to hiking procedures and permit requirements on Mount Rinjani for both domestic and international visitors. 'We will work on improving the regulations, we do not want incidents like this to happen again in the future. The West Nusa Tenggara administration is committed to providing a safe and comfortable experience for tourists,' Ms Indah said on June 26. Ms Juliana De Souza Pereira Marins fell into a ravine on Mount Rinjani in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, on June 21. The 27-year-old was found dead on June 24 after days of grueling evacuation efforts, which were hampered by bad weather and challenging terrain. Ms Marins began her climb of Mount Rinjani, Indonesia's second-highest volcano, on June 20, accompanied by several other climbers and a local guide. At around 6am the following day, she asked to rest at Cemara Nunggal, a narrow section of trail near the summit, bordered by the Mount Rinjani crater on one side and steep cliffs on the other. However, because of limited time and uncertain weather conditions, her fellow climbers and the guide decided to leave her behind and continue their ascent to the mountain summit. When they returned from the summit, the group was unable to locate Ms Marins. They only spotted a flashlight shining from inside the ravine, which they suspected was her headlamp. They immediately reported the incident to the authorities, who launched a rescue operation. Around 50 personnel, including members of the search and rescue agency, police, military and local volunteers, were deployed to the site to rescue Ms Marins. Ms Marins was believed to have survived the fall. Rescuers reported hearing her cries for help, and drone footage taken on the evening of June 21 showed her sitting upright partway down a 200m-deep ravine. However, efforts to reach her were severely hindered by poor weather and treacherous terrain. Rescuers were only able to reach her on the night of June 24, by which time she was no longer showing any signs of life. Shortly after the accident, Ms Marins' family created an Instagram account to raise awareness and rally support, which had gained more than 1.7 million followers as of June 27. Through the account, the family voiced frustration over what they described as sluggish and inadequate evacuation efforts by Indonesian authorities. Her family has claimed Ms Marins could have been saved if she was reached within hours rather than days, AFP reported. 'Juliana suffered severe neglect by the rescue team. Juliana would still be alive if the team had gotten to her within the estimated time of seven hours,' her family wrote late on June 25. 'Juliana deserved so much more! Now we are going after justice for her, because it's what she deserves.' Their sentiments were widely echoed by Brazilian netizens, many of whom questioned the competence of the rescue teams and criticised what they saw as a lack of proper equipment to carry out the operation. Some went as far as to claim that Ms Marins did not die from the fall itself, but as a result of the delayed rescue efforts. Authorities are currently conducting an autopsy to determine the cause and time of Ms Marins' death, at the request of her family. National Search and Rescue Agency head Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Syafi'i expressed his condolences over Ms Marins' passing and denied claims that rescuers responded slowly to the accident. 'I assure you that we responded very quickly, and rescuers were deployed to the site immediately. Throughout the operation, we adhered to standard evacuation procedures while prioritising the safety of our personnel,' he said on June 24. 'However, the victim's location was extremely difficult to reach. She was trapped in a steep ravine at an altitude of 9,000 feet (2.74km). Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Jokowi's health draws attention during birthday celebration
Indonesia's 7th President, Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, is seen in this undated photo while reportedly suffering from a skin allergy. - Photo: JAKARTA: Former president Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's appearance during his recent birthday celebration has sparked renewed speculation about his health, and whether it played a role in his decision not to enter the race for the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) chairmanship. Jokowi marked his 64th birthday on Saturday (June 21) at his private residence in Sumber Village, Banjarsari District, Surakarta, Central Java. The celebration drew hundreds of residents, who arrived in the morning with traditional food and local delicacies as tokens of affection for the popular former leader. However, public attention quickly shifted to Jokowi's physical condition. Visible swelling and dark spots on his face, coupled with the brief duration of his visit and his decision not to take photos with guests as he typically does, led many to question whether he was unwell. His aide, Comr. Syarif Fitriansyah, confirmed that Jokowi was recovering from an allergic skin reaction that had caused facial inflammation. 'Visually, we can see there are differences in his appearance, but overall his physical health is fine,' Syarif said on Sunday, reported, assuring that Jokowi's condition has improved in recent days. Concerns over Jokowi's health have simmered for months, fueled by viral clips from recent doorstop interviews in which he appears visibly fatigued and less energetic than usual. Syarif explained previously that Jokowi had an allergic reaction after his trip to the Vatican last April, when he attended Pope Francis' funeral on behalf of President Prabowo Subianto. 'Perhaps the shift in the weather [triggered the condition]. Once he returned and adjusted to the local climate, the symptoms began to show,' Syarif said on June 5, adding that a medical team had treated Jokowi at home. Many have speculated that Jokowi may be suffering from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), a rare but potentially life-threatening skin condition. According to the United States' National Library of Medicine, the syndrome affects two to seven people per million annually and can affect anyone with a genetic predisposition, although studies show it is more common in older adults and women. It is characterised by severe skin reactions that can lead to extensive tissue damage. Syarif denied that Jokowi's condition was related to SJS or any autoimmune disease, emphasising that he had not experienced typical symptoms such as fever or itching. The renewed attention to Jokowi's health has come alongside confirmation that he will not run in the upcoming PSI leadership election, despite earlier signs of interest, fueling speculation that his health may have influenced the decision. His youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, who currently serves as PSI chairman, confirmed the news on Saturday, saying it followed a week-long discussion with his father. 'It wouldn't be right for a son and father to compete against each other,' Kaesang told Antara after officially registering to seek another term as party chairman. Jokowi, who is not a member of any political party after being expelled from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has indicated in recent months that he was interested in trying his luck at PSI's leadership race on July 19. The self-proclaimed 'youth party', which is a staunch supporter of Jokowi, has also openly welcomed all potential candidates to register, including national figures like the former two-term president. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
The Star
20-06-2025
- The Star
Chinese tourist drowns off Indonesia's pink beach after skipping life jacket to pose for camera
Famous for its pink sand, Long Beach is a popular dive site located in the Padar Island within the national park. - Komodo Tour Boat website via ST/ANN JAKARTA: A Chinese tourist drowned while swimming off Long Beach at Indonesia's Komodo National Park on June 18, after reportedly ignoring safety advice to wear a life jacket. The victim, identified by local media as Qiu Yan, 30, had been part of a tour group visiting the national park — a cluster of islands in East Nusa Tenggara province, known for its rugged beauty and its population of Komodo dragons. Long Beach is a popular dive site located in the Padar Island within the national park. It is famous for its pink sand that gets its unique colour from red marine microscopic organisms called foraminifera. According to a statement from the West Manggarai police, Qiu entered the sea without a life jacket despite being cautioned by her guide. 'She was reminded to use one before going into the water, but she refused,' said police spokesman Hery Suryana in comments shared with an Indonesian news site, on June 19. Qiu had been travelling with ten others on a liveaboard tour. Her tour guide Anselmus Raden, 24, recounted that she wanted to take pictures before putting on the life jacket. 'We had told her to wear it, but she said she just wanted to pose for photos first,' he said. Moments later, others in the group raised the alarm that she had gone under. 'There was foam and blood coming from her mouth and nose,' said Hery. Qiu was transported to the Komodo Health Centre, but despite efforts by medical staff to resuscitate her, she was pronounced dead. Police said the cause of death was likely due to significant water entering her lungs. A rescue team later transported her body to Komodo Regional General Hospital in Labuan Bajo - the main entry point to Komodo National Park - using a rigid inflatable boat and a fast boat provided by the local port authority. Qiu had been on a three-day tour, which had set off from Nusantara Port on June 17. Authorities have since reiterated the need for strict adherence to safety protocols during marine tourism activities in the park. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Straits Times
Chinese tourist drowns during tour at Indonesia's Komodo National Park after skipping life jacket
Famous for its pink sand, Long Beach is a popular dive site located in the Padar Island within the national park. PHOTO: KOMODO TOUR BOAT WEBSITE Chinese tourist drowns off Indonesia's pink beach after skipping life jacket to pose for camera A Chinese tourist drowned while swimming off Long Beach at Indonesia's Komodo National Park on June 18 , after reportedly ignoring safety advice to wear a life jacket. The victim, identified by local media as Ms Qiu Yan, 30, had been part of a tour group visiting the national park — a cluster of islands in East Nusa Tenggara province, known for its rugged beauty and its population of Komodo dragons. Long Beach is a popular dive site located in the Padar Island within the national park. It is famous for its pink sand that gets its unique colour from red marine microscopic organisms called foraminifera. According to a statement from the West Manggarai police, Ms Qiu entered the sea without a life jacket despite being cautioned by her guide. 'She was reminded to use one before going into the water, but she refused,' said police spokesman Hery Suryana in comments shared with an Indonesian news site, on June 19. Ms Qiu had been travelling with 10 others on a liveaboard tour. Her tour guide M r Anselmus Rade n, 24, recounted that she wanted to take pictures before putting on the life jacket. Ms Qiu Yan was told to put on a live jacket, but she refused to, a local tour guide says. PHOTO: WEST MANGGARAI POLICE DEPARTMENT 'We had told her to wear it, but she said she just wanted to pose for photos first,' he said. Moments later, others in the group raised the alarm that she had gone under. She was pulled from the water unconscious at about 9.30am local time (10.30am Singapore time) and given immediate first aid on shore. Mr Anselmus attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR. 'There was foam and blood coming from her mouth and nose,' said Mr Hery. Ms Qiu was transported to the Komodo Health Centre, but despite efforts by medical staff to resuscitate her, she was pronounced dead. Police said the cause of death was likely due to significant water entering her lungs. A rescue team later transported her body to Komodo Regional General Hospital in Labuan Bajo - the main entry point to Komodo National Park - using a rigid inflatable boat and a fast boat provided by the local port authority. Ms Qiu had been on a three-day tour , which had set off from Nusantara Port on June 17. Authorities have since reiterated the need for strict adherence to safety protocols during marine tourism activities in the park. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
11-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Businesses grapple with Bali's single-use plastics ban
DENPASAR, Bali: Businesses in Bali are struggling to adapt to the recent ban on single-use plastics on the holiday island, with many resorting to less sustainable alternatives or expressing frustration over the lack of support and guidance from local authorities. In April, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster issued a circular banning the use of plastic bags, cups, straws and styrofoam in businesses, government offices, schools, hotels, restaurants, markets and places of worship, as part of broader efforts to tackle the island's growing waste problem. Businesses that fail to comply may face permit revocation, while villages that do not enforce the policy risk losing government assistance. Since the regulation took effect, many cafes, coffee shops and restaurants in Bali have begun replacing single-use plastic cups with paper alternatives. However, Catur Yuda Hariyani, director of the Bali Environmental Education Center (PPLH), argued that the shift to paper cups does little to address the island's mounting waste problem. 'We're simply replacing one type of waste with another,' Catur said on Monday (June 9) as reported by 'What's worse is that paper cups are even harder to recycle because they contain a plastic lining to make them waterproof. This lining must be separated during the recycling process, but it's extremely difficult to do. As a result, many recyclers won't accept them,' he added. He also warned that many businesses are now using paper cups to serve hot beverages, which poses health risks to consumers. According to Catur, the inner plastic lining of paper cups contains components such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which can leach into hot liquids. Hot water can also break down the plastic lining, potentially releasing microplastics into the drink. A 2020 study in India found that within just 15 minutes, a single paper cup of hot coffee or tea can release up to 25,000 microplastic particles into the beverage. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that micro- and nanoplastics can cause significant harm to the human body, including cell damage, inflammation, oxidative stress and immune system disruption. Meanwhile, exposure to both bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates can disrupt the endocrine system, potentially affecting reproductive development and behaviour, as well as increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Sellers in traditional markets have also expressed frustration over the lack of practical solutions and guidance from the government following the ban on single-use plastic bags across the island, saying the policy has disrupted their livelihood. 'If I don't use plastic, what can I use to wrap my products, especially since I sell ground spices like pepper and clove?', said Sindy, a spice vendor at Badung Market in Denpasar, in a recent interview. Rian, a raw chicken seller at the market, shares a similar struggle. 'Buyers rarely bring their own containers and often ask me to put the chicken in plastic bags. Sometimes they even ask me to double-bag to prevent leaks,' he said. Bali has been grappling with a growing waste crisis in recent years, with unmanaged garbage frequently contributing to environmental problems such as flooding, including in popular tourist areas. A 2019 study revealed that Bali generates 1.6 million tonnes of trash per year with around 303,000 tonnes of plastic waste. However, only some 48 per cent of Bali's waste is responsibly managed either through recycling or landfill. A significant portion of collected waste never reaches a recycling facility or any of Bali's 10 official landfills, leading to 33,000 tonnes of plastic leaking into waterways every year. Governor Wayan previously stated that nearly all landfill sites in Bali have reached full capacity, with the majority of the waste consisting of single-use plastics, particularly water bottles. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
