A 17-year-old from Cakranegara, Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), died after falling into a ravine roughly 100 meters deep while taking part in a spiritual pilgrimage up Mount Rinjani on Monday, July 27, 2026.
A Ritual Climb Turns Tragic
Astekita Ardiaristo, Head of Mount Rinjani National Park’s (TNGR) Administrative Sub-Division, said the victim, identified by his initials IGA, was among a group of climbers registered for a spiritual pilgrimage. He began the climb on July 26, 2026, via the Sambik Elen Village trail in North Lombok.
“The victim was registered as a ritual pilgrim. This is based on communication with the victim’s companions from the Sambik Elen Village, North Lombok route,” Astekita said on Tuesday night, July 28, 2026.
How the Fall Occurred
The incident happened as the victim was passing a section of the trail above the Kebun Jeruk shelter. He reportedly lost his footing and fell into a ravine approximately 100 meters deep.
“The victim fell into a ravine above the Kebun Jeruk shelter, before reaching Banyu Urip, at an estimated depth of around 100 meters,” Astekita explained.
The incident was first reported by the victim’s fellow climbers. When he was found, he had sustained fractures across multiple parts of his body and was believed to have died at the scene.
“According to the victim’s companions, he was reachable without needing rope. At the time, he had fractures in several parts of his body and showed no movement whatsoever. Based on what was observed, the victim was presumed to have died,” Astekita said.
Evacuation Effort
A joint search and rescue team carried out an evacuation process that lasted a full day. The victim’s body was successfully recovered on Tuesday afternoon and brought down through the Torean climbing gate.
“At 4:20pm, the joint SAR team carrying the victim arrived at the Torean climbing gate. The victim was then taken to Senaru Community Health Center (Puskesmas) for handover to the family,” Astekita said.
Why This Case Matters for Anyone Considering a Rinjani Climb
Mount Rinjani draws climbers for a wide range of reasons, spiritual pilgrimage, personal challenge, and scenic trekking among them, but this tragedy is a sobering reminder that the mountain’s trails carry real, unforgiving risk regardless of the purpose behind the climb. Sections of the route, including areas near Kebun Jeruk and Banyu Urip, involve narrow paths running close to steep drops, terrain that demands full attention and appropriate caution even from experienced or spiritually motivated climbers.
For anyone planning a Rinjani ascent, whether for pilgrimage, adventure, or both, this incident underscores the importance of using a registered guide, staying within marked trail boundaries, and exercising particular care on narrow ridgeline sections where a single misstep can have fatal consequences.
