Chinese tourist dies after falling into active volcano while trying to click a photo

Mount Ijen among Indonesia's approximately 130 active volcanoes.

A 31-year-old Chinese woman died after falling from the edge of a crater while posing for a photo on an Indonesian volcano renowned for its mesmerizing "blue fire" spectacle. Huang Lihong and her husband, Zhang Yong, were part of a guided tour in the East Java province when the incident occurred.

The couple wanted to watch the sunrise so they went to edge of the crater of Ijen, a popular volcano tourism destination in the region, as reported by Hongxing News.

Authorities revealed that Huang Lihong plunged approximately 246 feet to her death. The police have classified the incident as an accident, stating that she lost her footing while attempting to capture a photograph.

Initial investigations suggest that while initially maintaining a safe distance of eight or nine feet from the cliff's edge, the woman ventured closer in pursuit of a picturesque backdrop, inadvertently stepping backward onto her flowing clothing. This misstep led to the fatal fall, according to statements from the tour guide. It is not clear whether she was wearing a skirt or a dress that made her trip, The Independent reported.

The guide had repeatedly warned against the perilous terrain but the victim, after initially following the advice, did not pay heed. The Ijen volcano is renowned for its ethereal "blue fire" phenomenon caused by the combustion of sulphuric gases.

Mount Ijen, like many of Indonesia's approximately 130 active volcanoes, remains a site of fascination and peril. While emitting small amounts of noxious gases, the volcano attracts visitors drawn to its natural wonders.