237 people have been found dead after a fire swept through a supermarket on the outskirts of Paraguay's capital Asuncion Sunday.

UN officials were among the victims.

The fire broke out at a time when the supermarket was crowded with Sunday shoppers and the death toll could rise further.

Reports say the tragedy was most likely caused by gas canisters in a kitchen in the supermarket.

Rescue workers rushed to the scene to help search for survivors.

Argentina decides to dispatch helicopters to send relief materials to the victims in its neighbor.