An explosion on a barge in the Paraguay River, opposite the Costanera Sur in Asuncion, left at least five people dead on Saturday morning. The tanker-type vessel, operated by Lineas Panchita G, was empty at the time of the incident, but workers were on board carrying out services.
Rear Admiral Oscar Chamorro, head of Paraguay's Naval Prefecture, confirmed the number of victims and said one person was rescued alive. He warned that rescue operations were being carried out with extreme caution because the area may be contaminated by residual gases, which are considered a possible cause of the explosion.
The Naval Prefecture immediately deployed several specialized units to the site, and volunteer firefighters also worked to control a fire caused by the blast. The impact was felt by residents in several nearby cities, including Asuncion, Lambare and Limpio.
The identities of the victims have not yet been released, and investigations into the exact cause of the accident are still under way.