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02/08/2004
Hundreds die in Paraguay shopping centre fire
At least 300 people are thought to have died in a blaze which destroyed a shopping centre in the Paraguayan capital, Asuncion, yesterday.
Officials have put the death toll at just over 250, but some reports have put that figure as high as 340 as firefighters explore the disaster area. Many hundreds more have been injured in the fire which started yesterday lunchtime.
It has been alleged today that the tragedy was compounded when the owners of the Ycua Bolanos centre closed the doors to the complex – preventing shoppers from fleeing the area. Two owners have been detained by authorities over the allegations that the closed the doors were shut to stop people from leaving without paying. The management deny the claims, it has been reported.
A gas explosion – possibly emanating from the kitchens – is though to have caused the devastating blaze. The basement of the complex gave way and one of the floors collapsed, trapping victims beneath tonnes of rubble.
It is the worst tragedy to have befallen the South America nation since a failed military coup in 1947 left 8,000 people dead.
(gmcg)
Officials have put the death toll at just over 250, but some reports have put that figure as high as 340 as firefighters explore the disaster area. Many hundreds more have been injured in the fire which started yesterday lunchtime.
It has been alleged today that the tragedy was compounded when the owners of the Ycua Bolanos centre closed the doors to the complex – preventing shoppers from fleeing the area. Two owners have been detained by authorities over the allegations that the closed the doors were shut to stop people from leaving without paying. The management deny the claims, it has been reported.
A gas explosion – possibly emanating from the kitchens – is though to have caused the devastating blaze. The basement of the complex gave way and one of the floors collapsed, trapping victims beneath tonnes of rubble.
It is the worst tragedy to have befallen the South America nation since a failed military coup in 1947 left 8,000 people dead.
(gmcg)
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