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| Photo file (AAP News) |
A sudden fire at the COP30 climate summit in Belém on Thursday forced the complete evacuation of the conference center, prompting emergency action by authorities. Officials confirmed the blaze was quickly brought under control and no casualties were reported.
According to media reports, alarms sounded across the venue as delegates, observers and journalists rushed to gather their documents and belongings before exiting the halls. Police set up barriers to prevent anyone from approaching the affected section of the facility.
Brazil’s tourism minister told reporters that the fire had been fully contained. However, he cautioned that it was too early to say whether participants would be able to return to the negotiation hall later on Thursday or even Friday. Safety checks were still underway.
Summit organizers also confirmed the fire had been extinguished and noted that the fire department ordered a full evacuation of the site due to safety concerns. The United Nations climate body said fire services were conducting a comprehensive security inspection and further updates would follow.
Television footage showed flames and smoke rising from inside the conference center, which was built on the grounds of a former airport. The dramatic visuals spread rapidly as delegates assembled outside waiting for instructions.
The summit has already witnessed several protests by environmental groups demanding stronger climate action and greater forest protection. These demonstrations have disrupted negotiations on multiple occasions throughout the week.
The fire occurred at a critical moment when world leaders were engaged in high-stakes discussions on tackling the global climate crisis. Attention is now focused on the fire service’s safety assessment, which will determine when negotiations can resume.
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