The 13 surviving members of the Zabun family had just endured a night of torrential rain under a piece of leaky tarpaulin when we met them.

They are too afraid to sleep in any buildings, even their relatives' bungalow in the country.

Mustafa Zabun only has an identity card to remind him of his dead son

Errol Zabun took us inside for tea, where we met his nieces whose parents were killed in the earthquake.

Errol saved three of his brother's children and must now care for them. Mustafa, the grandfather, showed us his dead son's identity card. His daughter-in-law was pregnant when she died.

"The same day of the earthquake, we had his funeral, right here we buried him."

Losing it all

The family lost everything one week ago.

Tents are deemed safer than houses

Loved ones, their home, their business selling dough, and their car, without which they are stranded here in the country. They know the next few months are going to be bleak and unsettled.

They wanted to look around a tented city in Adapazari, so we took them there. At least they would be near jobs and schools for the children.

The muddy conditions brought on second thoughts, and then glum resignation. They queued to be registered.

Dependant on the government

For Errol, this is an alien experience, not only does he have the awesome responsibility of looking after his brother's three children, but he is also dependant on aid from the state.

Accepting that is not easy. After all, he used to run a successful business, but it is something he simply has to do.

As we neared their street, they steeled themselves for the sight of their ruined home.

Every effort is made, but often the search for survivors is in vain

To their amazement, a rescue attempt was underway at their apartment block. A woman's voice had been heard. A French team was searching through the gaps Errol had used to rescue the children last week.

"We saved you from that little hole ever there," he told the girls.

But the rescue team did not know the layout. Suddenly 15-year-old Nouram was called forward to talk them through each floor. In front of the hushed crowd, she briefed the searchers and drew diagrams, information that might save them hours of fruitless work.

The girl glowed with pride at her importance. But sadly, it was in vain and the search was abandoned.

Waiting for the girls to return, a broken-hearted grandfather prayed by his son's grave, knowing that one branch of the Zabun family was gone.