Understand why the body of the pastor from MG who died in earthquakes in Venezuela was not repatriated on a commercial flight

Family of pastor from Uberlândia campaigns for transfer after death in Venezuela
Although a plane ticket between Caracas and Uberlândia, in the Triângulo Mineiro, costs just over two minimum wages, the body of pastor Romildo Batista de Lima, aged 69, who died during the earthquakes in Venezuela, cannot be brought to Brazil on a commercial flight. Transport to Minas Gerais can cost up to R$50,000.
This happens because the repatriation of a body follows specific rules and procedures that are different from those adopted for the transport of passengers, which makes the process more complex and expensive.
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According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the international transfer of a body requires a series of steps, such as the issuance of consular documents, health authorizations, embalming and hiring a specialized funeral service.
In practice, what appears to be just a trip lasting a few hours turns into a complex and high-cost operation.
In similar cases, the transport of bodies from abroad to Brazil was budgeted between R$30,000 and R$200,000. The value varies depending on the distance, urgency and requirements of the country where the death occurred.
In the case of Venezuela, logistics were also affected by the situation in the country. In addition to the bureaucracy involved in releasing the body, Caracas airport was closed at times for safety reasons during air operations.
Itamaraty reported that consular death registration is free. However, Brazilian legislation does not provide for the payment of expenses for embalming, cremation, burial or transfer, except in exceptional situations.
The costs are paid by the family or by support networks that mobilize to make repatriation possible.
Next, see how the process of transferring a body from abroad to Brazil works.
How does the death registration of a Brazilian abroad work?
1. The death is registered at the Brazilian embassy or consulate
Registration must be made at the Brazilian representation responsible for the country where the death occurred.
The declaration must preferably be made by a family member, such as a spouse, child, brother, mother or father.
In some cases, an authorized representative, such as a funeral home, can also carry out the procedure.
2. Documents must be presented
Among the main documents required are:
completed death registration form;
death certificate issued by local authorities;
Brazilian identity document of the deceased;
identity document of the family member or representative making the declaration.
3. Registration is free
There is no cost to issuing a consular death certificate.
4. The document must be validated in Brazil
After being issued by the embassy or consulate, the certificate must be transcribed at a civil registry office in Brazil to have legal validity.
How does the transfer of the body to Brazil work?
romildo pastor uberlândia death venezuela
Reproduction/Social Networks
In addition to the death registration, it is also necessary to issue and legalize other documents, including:
authorization for international transport of the body;
original death certificate;
embalming certificate;
health certificate proving that death was not caused by a contagious disease.
In cases of infectious diseases, the body must be transported in a hermetically sealed metal urn.
The bodies where certificates, certificates and certificates are issued vary depending on the country.
Who pays for the transfer?
According to the Itamaraty, the Brazilian government does not cover expenses such as:
embalming;
cremation;
transfer of the body or ashes to Brazil;
burial abroad.
As a rule, these costs are the responsibility of the family or of people and institutions that decide to provide financial support.
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Family raises money to cover transfer costs
With the cost of the transfer estimated at around R$50,000, the family of pastor Romildo Batista de Lima started a virtual fundraiser to bring the body back to Brazil.
A campaign was created after family members were informed that the body could not be transported on a commercial flight.
According to TV Integração, the family managed to get a boarding for Saturday (27). However, after releasing the body to the funeral home, it was informed that the state of conservation did not allow transportation on a commercial aircraft.
The pastor's death was confirmed by his wife, Carlha Nacarid, who was injured and remains hospitalized in Venezuela. The information was passed on to g1 by the couple's niece, Jhulya Ribeiro de Lima.
According to Carlha, when the earthquake began, on Wednesday night (24), the couple ran to seek shelter. However, a wall fell on them both. Romildo was rescued and taken to a hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries and died in the early hours of Thursday (25).
According to Jhulya, after several contacts with the family, the embassy began the procedures for the return of the body, including issuing the death certificate.
However, given the impossibility of transporting the body on a commercial flight, the relatives needed to look for another alternative for international transfer.
The crowdfunding was created to pay for the transportation of the body to Brazil and allow Romildo to be laid to rest and buried close to his family. The campaign continues to be promoted on social media by family members.
"As the costs are very high, the online crowdfunding will both help pay for the transfer, and also help Carla, my uncle's wife who is still hospitalized", said Jhulya.
Family faces difficulties bringing body to Brazil
Romildo and Carlha
Reproduction/Social Media
The family learned of Romildo's death unexpectedly. After watching a news report about the earthquake, relatives tried to contact the couple on Thursday (25). Hours later, Carlha managed to communicate and confirmed the pastor's death.
Since then, relatives have faced difficulties in bringing the body to Brazil. The expectation is that he will arrive in Uberlândia in the next few days to be laid to rest and buried.
"It's very desperate because we want to bring my uncle, mainly to hold a dignified wake for him. They keep telling each other", said the niece.
➡ On Wednesday night (24), two earthquakes in a row hit the northern region of the country, where Caracas is located. In addition to the deaths, the tremors collapsed buildings and left a trail of destruction in the Venezuelan capital and surrounding areas. The earthquakes were the strongest in the country in more than 100 years.
The Venezuelan government updated the number of deaths on Monday (29) to 1,719, in addition to 5,034 injured and around 50,000 missing.
The Brazilian government, in turn, confirmed the death of two Brazilians, without disclosing their identities, and reported that it was providing consular assistance to the families.
Romildo had turned 69 on the 21st
Reproduction/Social Networks
Pastor visited his wife's family in Caracas
Four days before the tragedy, Romildo had celebrated his 69th birthday alongside his wife, during the trip to Caracas to visit her family.
Natural from Chapada de Minas (MG), Romildo built his life in Uberlândia, where he lived for more than ten years. Evangelical pastor, although he was not currently working, he was remembered by his family as a man of faith, affectionate and passionate about traveling.
"My uncle was a very good person, a radiant person, who loved traveling and enjoying life. It's very sad to see people like that lose their lives in this way, especially with such a degree of neglect", lamented Jhulya.
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Source: G1