For minutes, the only sounds came from far away: distant vehicles, distant rubble-clearing and distant voices.Six farmers from nearby villages looked on. With bright turbans wrapped around their heads and the dark hard faces of the desert, they put their hands to their hearts and shook their heads in sorrow. In other countries, we’ve had some bad experiences, but not here. Even when we have to tell people there is nobody left alive under a building, they have understood and have not made problems for us.”Close to the hostel, a man approached and said moaning had been heard from under the debris the night before – could the team help? They followed the man down a rubble-strewn alleyway. Others rushed up desperately hoping for medical attention or other help.”People have been very friendly,” says Mr Crook “They stop us and give fruit or water. One of the British team members said that although they have found people alive in the past up to five days after an earthquake, the chances of survival are now almost nil.”We made the decision this morning that we would not find survivors and that’s why we decided to come and salvage Gavin’s things,” said Mr Crook.On the way from the main international rescue camp in Bam to the guesthouse – the team wearing orange overalls and hard hats and still carrying their sonic-detection and rescue equipment – people waved, shouting their greetings and thanks. Even if I have one or two tents across the street, people can still come and stay.”Although there were many other guests at the hotel, only one other was confirmed dead.

An American member of a visiting tour group was pulled from the rubble badly bleeding and died in hospital in Kerman.Like most survivors, those from the guesthouse were pulled out during the night. Now the international rescue teams have almost entirely given up hope. He built his guesthouse eight years ago and it soon became one of the most popular in the city. “Please convey my message to the world,” he said, his gentle face breaking into tears “Please pay me a visit. From a half-standing wall further inside, the entire block can be seen. Not a single building in sight survived intact.Mr Panjalizadeh wailed as he pointed to another room “In this room my son died,” he said “I heard him screaming for help but I couldn’t do anything My wife and other children managed to get out. I keep looking for my neighbours but I don’t find them.”Only memories are left.

Inside, the debris is interspersed with furniture: parts of bedsteads and metal chairs point up from the rubble. All that remains of the seating area today is a high pile of bricks, mud wall and plaster. A metal doorframe is decorated with stickers from across the world. “I love Korea” reads one; another is for FC Barcelona.Bedrooms come off from the sides and another palm grove sits at the back.