Paraguay Probes into Fire Carnage

World | August 3, 2004, Tuesday // 00:00
Paraguay Probes into Fire Carnage A riot policeman stands guard at Paraguay's shopping complex, where victims of Sunday's inferno remain lying on the ground, in Asuncion. Photo by AFP.

Paraguayan authorities investigated claims the owner of a supermarket destroyed in a blaze that killed 364 people had ordered the doors locked so customers could not flee without paying. Prosecutors have said Juan Pio Paiva, owner of the Ycya Bolanos supermarket, will be charged with second degree homicide. Prosecutor Edgar Sanchez said about 20 witnesses told police the people in charge of the shopping center closed the doors so no one would get out without paying for their purchases. He said this was considered the main factor behind the deaths. Authorities on Monday ordered rescuers to halt their search for bodies, to avoid contaminating evidence, which they said international experts would view.

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