João Nélio arrived in Venezuela on the 15th of June for his first visit to the country, planning to see his daughter, explore the area, and experience a different way of life. While he was in Caracas on the upper floor of a house and preparing to travel to La Guaira, his mobile phone suddenly emitted an unfamiliar warning sound. Soon after, the house began to shake, and he realised he was living through an earthquake, something he had never experienced before. He said the tremor and the aftershocks left everyone frightened and unsure of where to go, with the movement making it seem as if everything was collapsing. The experience has continued to affect his sleep, and he described the situation as traumatic and difficult to forget. His return to Madeira was scheduled for the 29th of June, but the earthquake has disrupted those plans and flights remain unconfirmed. João Nélio said he is desperate to get back home, although he has not ruled out returning to Venezuela in the future to visit his daughter again.
