In total 394 people perished in the fire, and nearly 500 more were injured. According to survivors and some volunteers firefighters, the chief reason for high death toll were orders by the supermarket’s owners Juan Pío Paiva and his son Víctor Daniel to have the gates closed in order to prevent panicking shoppers from fleeing without paying for merchandise. The complex also lacked emergency exits and had inefficient fire protection systems.
Initially, Juan Pío Paiva, Víctor Daniel and a security guard denied the accusations but later surrendered to the police and were formally charged. The architect who designed the complex and several municipal public servants were charged as well.
