A massive fire broke out at the COP30 climate summit venue in Belém, Brazil, forcing delegates to evacuate the premises. The blaze originated in the ‘Blue Zone’, which houses the plenary hall, negotiations, country pavilions, media centre, and offices for high-profile dignitaries. Firefighters responded swiftly, and the fire was brought under control, with no injuries or casualties reported. ¹ ² ³
The incident occurred on the penultimate day of the two-week conference, as ministers from around the world were engaged in tense negotiations over fossil fuels, climate finance, and trade measures. The evacuation caused panic among delegates, who rushed to exit the building as smoke billowed inside and out. ⁴ ⁵
Brazil’s Tourism Minister Celso Sabino assured that the situation was under control, stating, “The incident has already been contained.” The UN climate body issued an urgent advisory, urging all to evacuate, and the fire service conducted safety checks before allowing reentry.
