Paraguay fire: death toll rises to 423

04 Aug, 2004

The death toll from a supermarket blaze in Paraguay jumped to 423 on Tuesday and officials said a guard received orders by radio during the fire to lock the exit doors, apparently to stop people leaving without paying.
The state prosecutors office, which announced the death toll, said another 139 people were reported missing in Sunday's fire and 451 people were injured.
A judge grilled the owner of Ycua Bolanos, his son and four guards on whether the doors had been locked immediately after the fire broke out to stop people leaving without paying. He was due to decide later on Tuesday whether to bring murder charges.

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