Supermarket fire kills at least 300 in Paraguay

At least 300 people were killed and hundreds more injured when a deadly fire raced through a shopping centre on the outskirts of the Paraguayan capital early Sunday, police said.

Security personnel locked the exits to prevent shoppers from fleeing without paying, adding to the high death toll. Fire fighters believe the blaze may have been ignited by a spark hitting an industrial-sized propane gas tank in the food court.The blaze consumed a significant part of a supermarket within the shopping complex, which also houses offices and a parking garage.Officials worried the 30-metre-high complex might collapse.Witnesses said that in the chaos that ensued they heard several explosions.Officials said the fire had likely been sparked by gas canisters that subsequently ignited.National police spokesman Santiago Velazco said searchers were expected to discover more victims inside the burned-out building.”Recovery teams are working slowly and cautiously as they retrieve the bodies,” Velazco said.The toll was especially high because shopping centre security personnel locked the main doors to prevent customers from fleeing without first paying.Prosecutor Edgar Sanchez, in charge of investigating the blaze, told reporters that shopping centre owner Juan Pio Paiva will be charged with homicide for blocking the doors.Paiva surrendered to the authorities, but categorically denied any order to close the complex’s doors.One survivor, Rosa Resquin, said she heard someone shouting “close them, close them” and “no one gets out of here without paying.””When they arrived, the police and firemen opened the doors, but it was already too late,” she told reporters.Patricia Benitez, 17, who was being treated at a hospital for second-degree burns, said, “they closed the door in our face.””(People) broke the exit door from outside and then we were able to get out,” Benitez said.”Most people died of smoke inhalation.Burns might have occurred later,” said volunteer fire fighter, Captain Hugo Onieva.”If they had let them out it wouldn’t have happened.”Volunteer fire fighter spokesman, Roque Gonzalez, said shopping centre security personnel even shot at fire fighters when they attempted to force open the main door.Gonzalez also dismissed speculation that the fire was set off by a car bomb in the basement parking lot.A police spokesman said the death toll could reach 300.”There are between 250 and 300 dead,” said police commissioner Santiago Velazco.”There could easily be 300 dead.They have not removed all of the bodies.It’s a disaster.”Up to 700 people are believed to have been inside the shopping centre, which belongs to the Ycua Bolanos chain and includes several fast-food outlets in addition to the store.Paraguayan president Nicanor Duarte quickly arrived at the complex Sunday accompanied by interior minister Orlando Fiorotto.”It’s a painful moment,” Duarte told reporters.- Nampa-AFPFire fighters believe the blaze may have been ignited by a spark hitting an industrial-sized propane gas tank in the food court.The blaze consumed a significant part of a supermarket within the shopping complex, which also houses offices and a parking garage.Officials worried the 30-metre-high complex might collapse.Witnesses said that in the chaos that ensued they heard several explosions.Officials said the fire had likely been sparked by gas canisters that subsequently ignited.National police spokesman Santiago Velazco said searchers were expected to discover more victims inside the burned-out building.”Recovery teams are working slowly and cautiously as they retrieve the bodies,” Velazco said.The toll was especially high because shopping centre security personnel locked the main doors to prevent customers from fleeing without first paying.Prosecutor Edgar Sanchez, in charge of investigating the blaze, told reporters that shopping centre owner Juan Pio Paiva will be charged with homicide for blocking the doors.Paiva surrendered to the authorities, but categorically denied any order to close the complex’s doors.One survivor, Rosa Resquin, said she heard someone shouting “close them, close them” and “no one gets out of here without paying.””When they arrived, the police and firemen opened the doors, but it was already too late,” she told reporters.Patricia Benitez, 17, who was being treated at a hospital for second-degree burns, said, “they closed the door in our face.””(People) broke the exit door from outside and then we were able to get out,” Benitez said.”Most people died of smoke inhalation.Burns might have occurred later,” said volunteer fire fighter, Captain Hugo Onieva.”If they had let them out it wouldn’t have happened.”Volunteer fire fighter spokesman, Roque Gonzalez, said shopping centre security personnel even shot at fire fighters when they attempted to force open the main door.Gonzalez also dismissed speculation that the fire was set off by a car bomb in the basement parking lot.A police spokesman said the death toll could reach 300.”There are between 250 and 300 dead,” said police commissioner Santiago Velazco.”There could easily be 300 dead.They have not removed all of the bodies.It’s a disaster.”Up to 700 people are believed to have been inside the shopping centre, which belongs to the Ycua Bolanos chain and includes several fast-food outlets in addition to the store.Paraguayan president Nicanor Duarte quickly arrived at the complex Sunday accompanied by interior minister Orlando Fiorotto.”It’s a painful moment,” Duarte told reporters.- Nampa-AFP