A sudden fire broke out Thursday inside a pavilion at the COP30 UN Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil, forcing delegates from around the world to evacuate as negotiations on fossil fuels, climate finance, and trade measures reached a critical stage.
Evacuation During Tense Talks
The blaze erupted during the second-to-last day of the two-week summit, disrupting high-level discussions aimed at breaking a global deadlock over how to phase out fossil fuels and fund climate-related damage.
Emergency teams quickly cleared the venue as smoke filled parts of the conference area.
Fire Contained — No Injuries Reported
Brazil’s Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino later confirmed that firefighters brought the situation under control.
“The incident has already been contained,” Sabino told Brazilian television, adding that no injuries were reported.
A Conference Already Under Pressure
With world leaders struggling to find consensus, the unexpected evacuation only underscored the tension surrounding one of the most consequential climate conferences in years.