A fire broke out Thursday afternoon at the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, forcing a chaotic evacuation of the convention center. The blaze, which originated in a pavilion dedicated to Africa, sent delegates scrambling for safety as smoke filled the tented facility built on a former airfield.
Initial Chaos and Evacuation
The fire began shortly after 2 p.m. local time, with witnesses reporting flames burning through the pavilion’s roof. Delegates, including diplomats, journalists, and activists from nearly 200 nations, initially received little official guidance as they fled the scene. One attendee, Ana Silva, described the panic: “People started running right beside us… Then a guy started yelling, ‘fire, fire’ in English and Portuguese.”
Containment and Disruptions
Summit officials stated the fire was contained within approximately 30 minutes, though delegates were repeatedly evacuated and barred from returning to negotiations for several hours. The COP presidency later claimed the fire was extinguished with “limited damage,” but work was suspended until late Thursday evening. The United Nations confirmed that 13 people were treated for smoke inhalation.
Summit Under Strain
The incident occurred amidst already-strained conditions at the summit venue. Delegates had previously complained about leaky roofs, food shortages, and inadequate air conditioning in the humid Brazilian heat. The UN climate chief, Simon Stiell, had recently called for increased security following a protest breach earlier in the week, citing unsecured doors and malfunctioning equipment as safety concerns in a letter to Brazilian officials.
The fire raises questions about the preparedness of the summit’s temporary infrastructure and the logistical challenges of hosting a large-scale international event in a vulnerable location. The summit is critical for nations to agree on emission reductions amid accelerating climate change.
The fire was contained quickly, but it underscored the instability surrounding the negotiations. The incident will likely add pressure on host officials to resolve ongoing problems and ensure the safety of all participants.
