BELÉM, Brazil: A massive fire prompted the urgent evacuation of the COP30 climate summit in the Brazilian city of Belem on Thursday, officials confirmed.
The blaze broke out inside a pavilion at the convention center, where more than 50,000 diplomats, journalists and activists had gathered for the global climate negotiations. It began shortly before 2:30 p.m. local time in a tent inside the UN-administered “Blue Zone,” which hosts national pavilions and negotiation rooms.
Videos on social media showed smoke and flames spreading rapidly as security personnel ordered people to evacuate. Thick plumes filled the main hall, where UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had delivered remarks just minutes earlier. The fire burned through the roof, allowing flames to spread to adjoining structures.
Firefighters from a nearby station responded quickly and brought the blaze under control within minutes.
Brazilian Tourism Minister Celso Sabino confirmed that there were no injuries. “Fortunately, no one was injured, thanks to the prompt action of the security teams and the Para Fire Department,” he said. Sabino later said the likely cause of the fire was a short circuit.
The run-up to the summit had already been overshadowed by logistical challenges in Belem, including limited infrastructure and soaring accommodation costs. Sabino dismissed speculation about disruptions to the summit, telling reporters, “This is something that could happen anywhere on the planet.” He added: “There is no possibility of canceling the summit, which is proving to be a success.”
Held at the gateway to the Brazilian Amazon, the summit was scheduled to conclude on Friday, though negotiators missed a Wednesday deadline to secure consensus among nearly 200 participating countries on energy transition, phasing out fossil fuels and climate adaptation measures.
