KATHMANDU, Nov 21: A fire erupted inside the UN climate summit venue in Belem, Brazil, on Thursday, forcing a mass evacuation and suspending negotiations at a critical stage, France 24 reported.
The blaze tore through pavilions and burned a hole in the roof, sending smoke through corridors and prompting delegates to run for the exits. It was the third major incident since COP30 began last week, following two disruptions by Indigenous protesters, according to France 24.
Security teams brought the fire under control in about six minutes, and the venue sustained only “limited damage,” Brazil and UN Climate Change said in a joint statement, as cited by France 24. The site is expected to reopen after 8 pm local time. Thirteen people were treated for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters and ambulances rushed to the scene as dark smoke rose from the massive tents hosting thousands of delegates.
“I could smell smoke and burning plastic… there were no alarms, no whistles—just people running and yelling,” emergency physician Kimberly Humphrey told AFP. She assisted evacuees being treated for shock and breathing difficulties.
Brazilian Tourism Minister Celso Sabino said the cause is under investigation, noting it may have stemmed from an electrical malfunction. Early complaints by the UN about security lapses, extreme heat, and leaks near electrical fittings had already raised concerns.
Delegates told AFP they had shifted discussions online as talks ground to a halt. The interruption comes at a decisive moment as countries struggle to break deadlocks on fossil fuels, climate finance and trade measures.
“It will definitely delay the process… this is the crucial time,” Indonesian delegate Windyo Laksono told AFP.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres had earlier urged negotiators to deliver an “ambitious compromise,” warning that “the world is watching.”