Paraguayan President Nicanor Duarte denied on Thursday that the supermarket fire in capital city Asuncion on Sunday was caused by a terrorist attack, said a report reaching here from the Paraguayan capital.

"Although the cause of the fire has not yet been established, the primary investigation results show that it has nothing to do with terrorist attacks," said Duarte after inspecting the supermarket.

"But we are waiting for the final report," he added.

Forensic experts from Argentina, Colombia and the United Stateshave started investigations into the cause of the fire, which left504 people dead and more than 500 others injured.

Earlier, Paraguayan Interior Minister Orlando Fiorotto also ruled out the possibility of a terrorist attack, saying that "investigations clearly pointed toward a gas leak and the rapid combustion of the merchandise."

On Tuesday, supermarket owner Juan Pio Paiva and his son VictorDaniel Paiva, accused of manslaughter, were held in preventive detention, as eyewitnesses said the son ordered supermarket guardsto close doors to prevent people from leaving without paying.

The justice department also froze their bank accounts and ordered to temporarily close five chain supermarkets owned by the family, said the report.

During his inspection, Duarte also pointed out that irregularities existed in the construction of the building.

Construction regulations were breached and the building lacked an efficient security system, the president said, adding that there were not enough emergency exits and extinguishers.

Asuncion city authorities have announced a citywide checkup on all the shops and supermarkets and will close those with irregularities, the report added.

Source: Xinhua