SoCal dad killed in massive Venezuela earthquake when hotel collapsed on him

The family of a Southern California man is reeling from a devastating loss after he was killed in the deadly Venezuela earthquake last week.

Romildo Batista de Lima was on vacation with his wife, Carlha Nacarid, when the tremor struck the Latin American country. As the quake hit, a hotel wall where they were staying collapsed on the couple.

The duo were rushed to the hospital, according to a GoFundMe set up by the man’s son, where de Lima died from his injuries. Nacarid survived with severe injuries, including a broken leg and hip.

“My priority right now is to get his body from Venezuela to Brazil. That’s where he wanted to be buried,” Daniel de Lima told ABC7 Eyewitness News. “Trying to coordinate that with my Brazilian side of the family that’s over there. And at this moment he’s en route to Brazil where he wants to be laid to rest.”

A magnitude-7.2 quake struck roughly 100 miles west of Caracas near San Felipe at 6 p.m. last Wednesday, followed just 39 seconds later by an even bigger 7.5-magnitude temblor hitting the town of Yumare about 27 miles away, according to the US Geological Survey. 

De Lima, whose father was a pastor, said the couple was in the country to celebrate his stepmother’s birthday.

“In a matter of seconds, everything changed,” the family wrote in the GoFundMe. “He dedicated his life to serving others through his faith, with perseverance and diligence, touching countless lives with his compassion, humility, and unwavering love.”

The fundraising site has collected more than $12,000 as of Tuesday morning toward its $18,000 goal.

The funds raised will help bring Romildo home to his native Uberlândia, Brazil, for his funeral and burial.

It will also help cover Nacarid’s surgeries and medical care as she recovers in Venezuela, and assist Romildo’s immediate family with travel from Los Angeles to Brazil so they can be together during this tough time.

“He was a loving husband, a devoted father to Daniel de Lima and a proud grandfather of three grandchildren, a caring brother, and a faithful friend,” the GoFundMe states.

The family said they have tried to contact authorities but to no avail.

“We have spent the last several days desperately trying every possible avenue for help. We reached out to government agencies and anyone we thought could assist us, hoping they could help bring Romildo home and help Carlha get the medical care she needs. Sadly, despite all of our efforts, we have not received the support we were praying for,” they wrote.

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