The death toll from the supermarket fire on the outskirts of Asuncion, Paraguay, rose to 464 on Tuesday, according to reports reaching here from Asuncion.

The number was released by Luis Diaz, Paraguay's secretary of Interior Minister Orlando Fiorotto.

The death toll, however, may rise further as firemen, rescue worker and police agents worked to remove the debris, said the reports.

The fire broke out at a time when the supermarket was crowded with Sunday midday shoppers. The reports said nearly 1,000 people had been inside the shopping center, which is part of the complex that also houses offices and an underground parking lot.

The shopping center belongs to the Ycua Bolanos chain and includes several fast-food outlets in addition to the store.

Witnesses said that doors within the complex had been deliberately closed so that people could not leave without paying,and that this had hampered people seeking to escape. The owner of the complex had surrendered himself to the police in the wake of the blaze, but denied categorically that there had been an order to close the complex's doors.

Many countries have offered condolences to Paraguay over the tragedy.

Source: Xinhua