At least 21 people were injured after a fire broke out inside the main venue at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil's Belem on Thursday, forcing delegates to run for safety, news agency PTI reported. The incident created chaos in one of the busiest areas of the UN conference as ministers from nearly 200 countries were engaged in talks over fossil fuels and climate.
According to news agency Reuters, the blaze erupted in a country pavilion located in the "blue zone" near the summit entrance. Footage showed flames and thick smoke rising inside the conference centre, which is set up in large temporary structures.
Sirens triggered an immediate evacuation. Delegates and observers were seen grabbing their belongings and rushing outside as police formed cordons to keep crowds away from the affected area.
UN staff and security teams attempted to extinguish the fire using handheld equipment before firefighters arrived. "Firefighters and security teams responded promptly and continue to monitor the site," Brazil’s COP30 organisers said in a statement.
The local fire service said the fire was probably caused by electrical equipment, likely a microwave, and was controlled within six minutes.
Authorities closed the venue for a thorough safety inspection and reopened it after more than six hours at 8:40 pm, sans the country pavilions - the area which caught fire.
"...according to updated data as of 6 pm this Thursday, 21 people have received medical care as a result of the fire that affected the Blue Zone of the event," the Brazilian Ministry of Health said in a statement.
Of the total cases, 19 are related to smoke inhalation and two to anxiety episodes following the incident. There have been no reports of individuals sustaining burn injuries from the flames, it added.
"Patients were promptly assisted and 12 have already been discharged. The remaining individuals are receiving appropriate care in health facilities in Belem and in a designated referral unit for such cases," the statement said.
Brazilian Tourism Minister Celso Sabino said the fire had been brought under control. The cause of the blaze remains unclear, and authorities are expected to conduct further inspections before allowing re-entry.
Mauricio Lyrio, who heads the Brazilian delegation, said he had been in the middle of signing an agreement with a third country when staff ordered everyone to leave. "We don’t believe we’ll be able to return to the site today," he said.
In a joint statement, the UN COP30 Presidency, which is organising the summit, and UNFCCC said, "We still have substantial work ahead, and we trust that delegates will return to the negotiations in a spirit of solidarity and determination to ensure a successful outcome for this COP."
The fire erupted at a critical moment. Ministers were attempting to break a stalemate over key issues, including the future of fossil fuels, financing for developing nations and global trade measures linked to climate policy. The conference is scheduled to end on Friday evening.
It is learnt that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was present at the venue and promptly evacuated by the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) protection detail.
India's Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav was also present with the Indian delegation inside the Blue Zone when the fire broke out, but he and other officials safely exited the venue, a spokesperson of the ministry told PTI.
In a mail to all participants, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said that following a comprehensive safety assessment, the venue has been thoroughly inspected and deemed fully safe.
"Brazilian authorities have restored all working conditions on the conference premises, secured the post-fire operating permit from the Fire Department and formally returned the area to the UNFCCC," it added.
The Blue Zone has now been reinstated to full operational status and has been reopened as of 8:40 pm. All accredited COP participants are now able to access the COP30 venue in the usual ways.
However, the pavilion area (Zone B) directly affected by the fire will remain inaccessible for the remainder of the conference, which is scheduled to conclude on Friday.
"There will be no plenary activity this evening. All plenary sessions tomorrow will be open to all parties and observers and will be fully live-streamed, and all usual measures to keep parties, observers and media informed of negotiations will continue," the mail stated.
Earlier in the day, Guterres urged negotiators to deliver an "ambitious compromise". "The world is watching Belem," he said during a press briefing, as countries awaited a revised negotiating text.
COP30 has already faced mounting tension, with activists staging multiple protests demanding strict action on emissions and protection of the Amazon rainforest. Some demonstrations have briefly disrupted sessions during the summit’s two-week run.
