A grieving family who flew from the UK for a funeral found themselves in the middle of a disaster after getting caught up in the Turkey earthquake.

Eylem Yildiz travelled to Besni for Wednesday's ceremony from Swindon with three relatives after her father died on Tuesday, 31 January.

Daughter Busra Yildiz, who lives in Cardiff, stayed in the UK to look after her sisters.

Busra's mum, aunt, uncle and one-year-old cousin were to return last week.

But bad weather meant their journey home was delayed. 

When two earthquakes struck on Monday, the apartment block they were staying in was reduced to rubble.

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Busra's boyfriend, Sam Thomas, said: "They were all grieving for their lost grandfather then this happened." 

Eylem has yet to be found, while Busra's grandmother, Saadet Onder, and three other family members from Turkey are also missing.

Her aunt Emine Onder-Nizan, her uncle, Engin Onder-Nizan and cousin Mete Onder-Nizan - who all travelled from the UK - have been found.

The death toll from the disaster is now approaching 24,000. 

The carnage unfolded when a 7.8 magnitude quake struck near Gaziantep, and was followed by multiple aftershocks. 

One, almost as large as the first, measured 7.5 magnitude.

Busra, who was born in Besni and brought up in Swindon, Wiltshire, travelled on Monday to Turkey to help.

Web designer Mr Thomas said: "It's just heart breaking to know they can hear people in there. 

"This week Busra has seen childhood friends and family being pulled out dead. 

"She has seen dead children. I cannot imagine what she is feeling like." 

The UK's Disasters Emergency Committee's raised £32.9m on its first day, including £5m matched by the UK government, for Turkey and Syria.

Busra, 24, has been sleeping in a "fabricated pod", with her boyfriend adding: "She is so strong, I don't know how she does it."

He praised his girlfriend for being "so brave".

"I am praying they are all alive and hoping they will all come out," Mr Thomas said.

"I really want my loved ones out of that building.

"I believe in my heart of hearts they are going to be found and they are going to be okay.

"They are all religious people and strong women. It is breaking my heart they are being put through this." 

Brazil and Switzerland have called for the UN Security Council to meet next week to discuss its response to the situation in Syria, which was also affected. 

Mr Thomas admitted he was feeling "pretty horrendous" but said he was being supported by friends and family.

"This has been the worst five days of my life, it feels like one big day," he said.

"It's not my blood family, and I can't imagine what it would be like to have my mum trapped there in a building."