Catastrophe in asunción, paraguay.

On Sunday 1 August 2004, at noon, in a well-known supermarket (Ycua Bolaños) on the outskirts of Asunción, the capital of Paraguay, there was a violent explosion in the fast-food section. This was caused by a build-up of gases in the chimneys of the kitchen. The flames spread rapidly through the air ducts, causing a huge fire throughout the supermarket. When the fire broke out, there were about 1000 people present. According to official records, 424 people died in the disaster and 30 were reported missing. Various medical institutions admitted a total number of 360 patients with third-degree burns and/or damage to the airways. One hundred and eighteen patients were treated in the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Department of the Institute of Social Welfare Hospital, the centre of reference for the capital of Paraguay.