A large fire erupted Thursday afternoon (local time) inside a pavilion at the COP30 venue in Belém, Brazil, The New York Times reported. The incident occurred in a convention hall hosting more than 50,000 diplomats, journalists, and activists attending the global climate summit.
Authorities have not yet identified the cause of the fire, and no injuries have been reported. The blaze began around 2 p.m., filling the convention center with smoke and prompting an evacuation. An official from the Summit Presidency initially said the fire had been contained within about 30 minutes, according to the report.
Although attendees began returning to the building around 3 p.m., officials quickly directed them back outside, stating that the evacuation was still underway. At 4:20 p.m., the COP Presidency confirmed the fire had been controlled with “limited damage.”
Delegates from nearly 200 countries have traveled to Belém for COP30 to negotiate measures aimed at reducing the greenhouse gas emissions driving dangerous global warming.
The summit venue faced criticism last week after heavy rainfall leaked into meeting areas, dripping onto participants. Attendees also reported food shortages, while air-conditioning systems struggled against the extreme heat and humidity.
