Children as young as 14 are feared to have died in a horror blaze during a on New Year's Eve party a packed bar at a Swiss ski resort.
Authorities say around 40 people have died and 115 severely injured after the inferno ripped through Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana overnight.
As families face an anxious wait for news, tearful mourners have been seen hugging each other at a police cordon set up at the site "one of the worst tragedies" to hit Switzerland.
Ski instructor Antonio Somma, 18, lives just yards away from the bar and is regular there. He and his friends were on the way to it from another bar when the tragedy happened and only missed becoming involved in it by minutes.
Antonio told the Mirror on Thursday night: "One of my friends was in the bar. He is in a coma in hospital in Stuttgart. He is aged 18. I found out this morning. It was difficult to hear that. We have no information apart from he is in a coma but we hope he gets better.
"We arrived at 1.30am just after it happened. It was shocking. We didn't believe at first it was real.I frequently go in this bar. Normally it is for people aged over 18 but we know they let younger people in.
"A friend of my mother works in the hospital and says some of the victims are between 14 and 17 years old. Everybody here is sad. We have come here to think about the people inside. I don't know how we will recover."
A local man, who asked not to be named, claimed the bar is a popular hangout for underage young teenagers as he said it does not ask patrons for ID.
He said: "It's customers are mainly young people as you don't need ID. I would say mainly people aged from about 15 to 20.
"It plays music for younger people. I have seen the candles and sparklers being used in there before, although I did not see any problems. We think one of our friends has died, but we do not know for sure yet. We are waiting for news."
Shortly after 7pm local time, two teams of police officers were seen entering the cordon, including some carrying large bags.
Mourners have left flowers and lit candles at a growing makeshift memorial at a cordon on Rue Centrale, close to the bar. Many people have been seen performing the sign of the cross while looking at the tributes, which include dozens of bouquets.
Despite temperatures of minus four, people can be seen standing and looking at the scene, while visibly looking shocked, for several minutes at a time.
Among them are Ivan Wyssen and his wife Juliane, 42, who travelled from their home around 20 minutes away to show solidarity to the victims.
Ivan, 40, told the Mirror: "We saw the emergency vehicles early this morning at around 2am. It's very terrible. People here are in shock. I think many young people have died."
The horror unfolded at around 1.30am local time as revellers celebrated the new year at the popular tourist bar. Terrified witnesses believe the deadly fire was sparked by champagne sparklers which set fire to the roof of the packed venue.
Shocking footage appeared to show the moment the fire took hold after the ceiling was set ablaze. At least 40 people have died, local police said. It is not known how many people were inside the bar at the time of the tragedy.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin called the incident "one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced".
There are 60 people being treated at a hospital in Sion, and others have been taken to hospitals in other Swiss cities.
Three Italian nationals injured in the fire are being evacuated to Niguarda hospital's major burns unit in Milan, a local councillor said.
Guido Bertolaso told journalists "a young woman, not yet in her 30s, and two young boys aged 16" will be arriving in Milan this evening to be treated.