A fire broke out at the COP30 venue in Belem, Brazil, on Thursday, forcing evacuations and leaving 13 people suffering from smoke inhalation. The blaze disrupted UN climate talks at a critical time, with just two scheduled days remaining for negotiators to reach a deal.
The fire started in the pavilion area of the conference, near the China Pavilion, and quickly spread to neighbouring pavilions, including several African pavilions and a youth-focused one. Local fire officials said the cause is under investigation but suggested it may have been sparked by electrical equipment, such as a microwave. Para state governor Helder Barbalho indicated a generator failure or short circuit could be responsible.
Organisers said the fire was controlled within six minutes, and the affected area was inspected and deemed safe by the fire department. However, the entire site was evacuated for safety checks, and the area where the fire occurred will remain isolated for the duration of the conference. By 8.40pm local time, the negotiation area had been reinstated and resumed operations.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as black smoke billowed from the pavilions. Gabi Andrade, a volunteer, said a security guard helped her evacuate as she screamed “fire”. Viliami Vainga Tone of the Tonga delegation expressed disappointment that the fire had further shortened the already limited time for negotiations, but remained optimistic about reaching a deal.
The fire has raised concerns about Brazil’s ability to host the talks, especially as much of the venue was still under construction when the conference opened. Despite the disruption, organisers confirmed that no serious injuries were reported, and the 13 individuals treated for smoke inhalation are being monitored.
