Paraguay supermarket fire

The Paraguay supermarket fire was a disastrous fire that occurred on Sunday, August 1, 2004 in Asunción, Paraguay. The three-story Ycuá Bolaños 5 supermarket and commercial complex, which included a restaurant, offices, and an underground parking garage, caught fire, causing two explosions on the first floor. The fire burned for seven hours before firefighters were able to extinguish it. Initially, it was reported that at least 275 people died, including many children. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/08/01/supermarket.blast.int/index.html CNN] ] The final death toll is 374 (leaving 204 orphans), 9 disappeared and nearly 500 people injured. The cause was believed to be a faulty barbecue chimney that leaked hot flammable gases into the ceiling, which ignited.

Several survivors of the fire and volunteer firefighters alleged that, when the fire broke out, doors within the complex were deliberately closed under the direction of the owners, Juan Pío Paiva and his son, Víctor Daniel, trapping people inside, in order to prevent people from fleeing with merchandise without paying for it. The management of the shopping center denied the charge. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/02/1091298607415.html?from=storylhs Sydney Morning Herald] ] Paiva, his son and a security guard surrendered to the police and were formally charged.

A major issue was that the complex lacked emergency exits and efficient fire protection systems. The architect of the complex and several municipal public servants responsible for the overseeing of commercial buildings are being prosecuted too.On December 5, 2006, Juan Pío Paiva, Víctor Daniel Paiva and the security guard were convicted of involuntary manslaughter with a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The prosecution however was seeking a 25-years-in-prison term. As the verdict was read, angry survivors and family members of the deceased started a violent demonstration inside the court room, which later spread onto the streets of Asunción. The prosecution demanded a retrial. [Daniela Desantis, [http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyid=2006-12-05T215035Z_01_N05437788_RTRUKOC_0_US-PARAGUAY-FIRE-VERDICT.xml&src=rss "Violence erupts over Paraguay fire verdict"] December 5, 2006 Reuters]

On February 2, 2008, a new court ruled that the trio committed negligent homicide. Juan Pío Paiva, president of the company, received a sentence of 12 years in prison. His son Víctor Daniel Paiva, present at the start of the fire, was sentenced to 10 years in jail. Security guard Daniel Areco, who closed the doors, was condemned to 5 years in prison. Additionally, shareholder Humberto Casaccia, also present at the start of the fire, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for endangering people in the work place. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/03/2153060.htm Australian Broadcasting Company] ]

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