Paraguay fire survivors and families honor over 360 victims

In Asunción, Paraguay, hundreds gathered on Saturday to commemorate the victims of the devastating 2004 Ycuá Bolaños supermarket fire. The tragedy claimed at least 364 lives, leaving a deep scar on the South American nation.

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I never saw her again.

Among those present was Francisca Concepción, who tearfully remembered her sister, María, one of the many who perished. "I never saw her again," Concepción told EFE, recalling that they had planned a celebration that day. Her sister left behind three orphaned children.

The fire, which began on August 1, 2004, also resulted in over 200 injured and six missing, though families claim the death toll reached 400. Survivors and relatives continue to allege that the supermarket owners closed the exits to prevent customers from leaving without paying, a claim that fuels the annual grief and calls for justice.

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It has been difficult to forget, difficult to erase the memory of that fateful day, I think the screams of desperation, of pain, that rage of wanting in one way or another to get out of this place and not being able to do so can still weigh heavily.

Tatiana Gabaglio, who was a child when she survived the inferno, shared her painful memories of the screams and desperation. Now 29 and a lawyer, she has also become a Paralympic gold medalist. She emphasized that keeping the memory alive is an act of justice. "To keep that memory alive 22 years later is very difficult. That we are still here today, filling this place with people, remembering, is justice," she stated.

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Keeping the memory alive is justice, and keeping that memory alive 22 years later is very difficult. That we are still here today, filling this place with people, remembering, is justice.