Tourist Dies, Falling 250ft Into Active Volcano After Trying to ‘Pose for Pictures’

A tourist in Indonesia fell into a volcano and perished recently, reminding people everywhere to take care of how they dress for adventure and to reconsider if their life is worth a photo opportunity.

A Tourist Falls to Her Death

Huang Lihong a 31-year-old woman from China was on vacation with her husband in Indonesia when she reportedly posed for a picture and fell 250 ft into a volcano. The event occurred at sunrise, providing an opportunity to take a beautiful picture and cement a precious memory. Huang and her husband Zhang climbed to the top of the Ijen Crater in Banyuwangi, Indonesia, with a local guide to enjoy the sunrise from the rim of the volcano.

Unfortunately, her skirt got caught, and she stumbled, going backward. Her husband had to watch as his wife fell to her death. What’s more, it took rescuers more than 2 hours to locate her body. The head of the Department of Conservation in Banyuwangi, Indonesia released a statement labeling her death an accident and reminding other tourists to “remain safe while scaling Mount Ijen.”

The Power of Mother Nature

Sadly, this isn’t the first time a tourist has lost their life for the sake of taking a great photo for social media. A 43-year-old male from India named Abhishek Bhatia was on a tour in Broken Bay, Nusa Penida Island in Bali, after slipping off a cliff while taking a selfie. Needless to say, he fell to the beach below and lost his life.

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Safety as a Tourist

The world is brimming with gorgeous mountainous views, waterfalls, volcanoes, lakes and rivers, and many other photogenic and memorable scenes. As such, many people venture out to capture the perfect picture for social media. However, ensuring safety as a tourist should always be the priority. Here are a few tips to help ensure safety as a tourist, and if not, also to enhance your experience.

• Stay Away from the Edge.
• Take pictures a few feet before walking to the edge.
• Wear close-toed shoes with a grip to help prevent slipping.
• Wear moveable and breathable clothing, ensuring it fits the body, rather than flows like a skirt.
• Hold on to whatever supports are in place: poles, rails, handles, etc.
• Ensure belongings are secure and stored in a backpack to free up both hands.
• Check with locals or guides regarding laws such as areas that might be prohibited for public use.
• Rather than obsess about taking a photo worthy of social media, put the phones and cameras away and take in the moment. Take in the views, smells, and sounds. Bask in the magnitude of Earth’s beauty. Breath deeply. This way, you’ll remember every detail, even when you’re no longer a tourist on vacation.

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A Unique Volcano

Although this woman’s story is heartbreaking, there is something that makes Mount Ijen so photogenic. Mount Ijen is part of a group of volcanoes between Banyuwangi and Bondowoso in East Java, Indonesia. This group of volcanoes is renowned for the blue fire that erupts, a chemical reaction of sulphuric acid. Therefore, it’s unsurprising that a tourist and her husband would want to capture such a precious moment, with a unique background. In contrast, no one expects these moments to end in disaster. It’s likely this couple didn’t either. Regardless, the Earth and mother-nature can be as dangerous as they are beautiful; safety and awareness should always be prioritized.

Stories of people losing their lives or being severely injured and hospitalized are becoming more and more common, particularly for the benefit of capturing the perfect picture for social media. However, being a tourist puts people at a disadvantage because they’re unfamiliar with the climate or terrain. As such, research the environment a little. Google reviews are a great place to start because you can compare other people’s experiences, noting the time of year they traveled and if they learned anything valuable along the way. Take a moment to reconsider if the photo opp can become life-threatening and make adjustments as needed.

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