Fire survivors claim store doors locked

SURVIVORS of an inferno in a crowded supermarket said locked doors slowed their escape from the fire that killed at least 311 people in Paraguay's worst disaster in more than half a century.

Hundreds more were injured, many with serious burns, after the blaze swept through the multilevel Ycua Bolanos supermarket on the outskirts of the capital, Asuncion, while it was crowded with shoppers around midday on Sunday.

At least 311 people were killed, Interior Minister Orlando Fiorotto announced at midday yesterday after another morning of searching at the charred supermarket.