Fears are rising for a missing British man who has not been seen since attending a disco in Thailand where a fatal fire broke out.

Michael Pio Tzouvanni, 24, from London, was at the Tiger Discotheque with two friends but split up from them just before the blaze in the early hours of Friday.

Family friend Kiki Loizou said Mr Tzouvanni’s brother Joseph, 26, has flown out to Phuket to appeal for help with tracing him.

Confusion surrounds the inquiry as police are yet to formally identify four victims, believed to be two men and two women, and officers are also thought to be investigating at least three other missing people.

Mr Tzouvanni told a press conference that his construction developer brother’s possessions are still in his hotel.

Appealing for anyone with information to contact the British embassy, he told English-language newspaper the Phuket News: “He has been missing for three days now. I’ve been busy checking everywhere to find him: the prison, the police, hotels, as he could be anywhere.

“Michael called his friend at 4am at the Tiger Discotheque on the day of the fire … I don’t know what he talked about with his friend. He had already stayed in Phuket for 10 days and he extended (his stay) another four days as he loves Phuket. He always comes to Phuket, especially Soi Bangla.

“We love him and we need to find him. We have five brothers, one sister. As soon as we found out that Michael had disappeared, I decided by my own to come here. He is on Bangla (an area of Phuket) every day. He’s probably just missing, as we hope, but if anyone sees him around, please contact the police. Please help me find Michael.”

Captain Urumporn Koondejsumrit of the Phuket Tourist Police said Michael was scheduled to fly out of Phuket at about 4pm on Sunday. “We will send Michael’s toothbrush and a sample of Joseph’s DNA to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Police General Hospital (in Bangkok) today,” the officer told Phuket News.

Michael is well known in the Cypriot community as a footballer with Maronites FC who play in the Cypriot Football League in the UK (KOPA).

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said they have no information about any British involvement but are awaiting more information

MSN News