Fears have escalated following the disappearance of a young woman in the UK five days ago, after she boarded a bus on a university campus.

Authorities have expressed deep concerns for Vittoria Figueiredo-Barreto, a 30-year-old psychology student who went missing while visiting the UK to explore pursuing a doctorate. She had been staying with a female friend in Colchester, Essex, and engaging in research and academic training at the University of Essex.

Friends of Vittoria have raised troubling suspicions after her disappearance, with one friend suggesting that CCTV footage showed her disembarking a bus and heading towards Brightlingsea Harbour in Essex, leading to concerns of potential human trafficking involvement.

Detective Superintendent Anna Granger of Essex Police issued an update urging Vittoria to make contact if possible and asking residents in the Brightlingsea area to review any CCTV, doorbell, or dash cam footage that could assist in locating her.

Fernanda Silvestre, a friend and fellow psychologist, revealed that Vittoria’s phone had activated emergency mode, indicating a location near the sea. Concerns have grown as searches continue, including investigations at hospitals and in the surrounding region, with fears of human trafficking being considered.

Essex Police initially issued an appeal for information on Vittoria’s whereabouts, describing her appearance and the last known details of her movements on the day she went missing. Subsequent updates have pinpointed her last known locations and reiterated the urgency of locating her.

Vittoria, originally from Fortaleza, Brazil, had traveled to Morocco for a conference before arriving in the UK in January. The search efforts persist, with authorities and loved ones seeking any information that could lead to finding her.