Missing Chinese Tourist Found Dead in Lombok

(8/15/2011)

The remains of a Chinese tourist, Wenjing Zhu (40), who had been missing since February have been found on the slopes of Mount Rinjani in Lombok.

The skeletal remains of the man were discovered by two local men in a ravine at a height of 2,500 meters.

Park officials for the Mount Rinjani National Park evacuated the remains on Friday, August 12, 2011.

Two men from the village of Sesait in North Lombok were trekking in the Park when they slipped down a ravine and to find the man’s bones. In close proximity they also discovered a hand phone, passport and camera.

At one point the evacuation of the remains were held up when the two men ask if they would receive the US$4,000 reward offered for Zhu’s discovery by his family.

Wenjing Zhu of Foshan, Guandong, China last made contact with his family on February 22, 2011. His family reported the man’s disappearance to Indonesian Police and Mount Rinjani National Park officials, offering a cash reward for his recovery.

The head of the park, Syirafudin, told Kompas.com that the Chinese national apparently went hiking alone on the mountain at a time climbers were banned from entering the park due to increased volcanic activity on Mt. Rinjani.