BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- The number of dead and missing people from the supermarket fire on the outskirts of Asuncion, Paraguay, rose to 368, reports reaching here said Tuesday.

    Two women and two men recently died from their injuries caused by the fire in Ycua Bolanos supermarket on Aug. 1.

    The official updated number of identified individuals -- whose bodies were given to their families -- was 319, while there still are 49 missing people, said Prosecutor Teresa Sosa, who is in charge of investigation.

    Sosa added that DNA samples have also been taken from 43 human remains for identification.

    In addition, the Attorney General's office confirmed that the gates of the supermarket were immediately locked when the fire broke out, thus blocking the escape exits for the people inside the building.

    "It is possible to conclude from the evidence collected on the spot that the gates were locked" when the fire started, said forensic experts carrying out the investigation.

    The results will be used to file a charge against the supermarket's owner and four security guards who closed the gates "to prevent looting." Enditem