Death by Selfie: Tourist Falls into Indonesian Volcano

Indonesia is a beloved travel destination worldwide. Its awe-inspiring natural landscapes are almost unbelievable. Most tourists carry cameras with them to capture the splendor of nature.

However, extra caution is required when taking photos in places without specific safety facilities, especially in Indonesia, where accidents during photography sessions are quite common. A recent incident involved a woman who fell while photographing a volcano in Indonesia. Let’s take a closer look at what happened.

Located on the island of Java in Indonesia, Gunung Ijen is an active volcano standing at an elevation of 2,800 meters (about 9200 feet). It is one of Indonesia’s representative volcanoes and a renowned trekking destination. Gunung Ijen is famous for being covered with the world’s most hazardous acidic lake and sulfur.

Visitors to Gunung Ijen can witness the phenomenon known as the “Blue Fire,” where sulfur gas ignites due to the volcano’s heat when sulfur is expelled. After about a 2-3 hour climb to the volcano’s summit, visitors wear gas masks and descend to the caldera lake. Here, they can witness the Blue Fire, which exists only in two places worldwide.

As much as Gunung Ijen offers mystical landscapes, it can also be where precarious accidents occur. Therefore, it’s a travel destination that requires utmost caution.

On the 20th, a 31-year-old female tourist from China tragically fell into a volcanic crater while photographing at Gunung Ijen. Accompanied by her husband, she had visited Gunung Ijen to witness the sunrise. They ascended to the rim of the volcanic crater, situated within a designated tourist area. The incident occurred during her photography endeavors.

The woman was capturing images approximately 2-3 meters (about 6.5-10 feet) from the cliff’s edge when she inadvertently lost her footing, resulting in a fatal fall.

A tour guide at the scene recounted, “I had cautioned the tourists about the dangers of approaching the crater. Despite warning the woman of the risks involved, she chose to step back in pursuit of a more picturesque photograph.”

The woman fell approximately 75 meters (about 246 feet) into the volcanic crater.

According to authorities, it took rescue workers over two hours to retrieve the body. The woman’s death was determined to be accidental. Her remains are scheduled to be transported to Bali before being repatriated to China.

Gunung Ijen is renowned for its stunning scenery and is a flagship tourist destination in Indonesia. However, accidents continue to occur. In February, a Polish tourist was found deceased on a hiking trail.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia emphasized, “Safety measures are paramount at tourist attractions, and I reiterate this once again.” He stressed the importance of tourists receiving guidance and assistance from guides and staff at these destinations. He added, “We hope such incidents will never happen again.”

Furthermore, it was emphasized that all visitors must be aware of and adhere to the rules of each tourist site.

In 2021, in the Kedung Ombo Reservoir in Boyolali, Central Java, Indonesia, a boat carrying 19 tourists capsized while moving forward to take selfies. Eleven were rescued, but eight bodies were found, and one person was reported missing.

These tourists were on a boat heading to a floating restaurant when one of them moved to the front of the ship to take a selfie. Other tourists also wanted to take selfies, so they crowded to the front, causing the boat to overturn.

Initially, the boat’s capacity was a maximum of 14 people. Safety equipment was also lacking, and carrying too many passengers was a problem.

Accidents resulting in death while taking selfies are occurring not only in Indonesia but also in various parts of the world. It has been revealed that over the past 14 years, 400 people have died while taking selfies, with 80% of them being tourists. It’s essential to double-check whether the situation is safe before taking photos during your travels.