BELEM, Brazil, Nov 21: A massive fire erupted inside a pavilion at the COP30 Climate Summit venue in Belem on Thursday, according to The New York Times. The blaze occurred within a convention hall hosting more than 50,000 diplomats, journalists, and activists attending the global climate summit.
No injuries have been reported so far, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. The incident began around 2 p.m., filling the convention center with smoke and forcing an evacuation of delegates. An official from the Summit Presidency initially reported that the fire had been contained for approximately 30 minutes.
By 3 p.m., some attendees began returning to the convention hall, but officials quickly evacuated them again as the situation continued to be assessed. At 4:20 p.m., the COP Presidency announced that the fire was finally contained, with “limited damage” reported.
The COP30 summit has drawn thousands of participants from nearly 200 countries to discuss strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing global climate change.
The venue has faced scrutiny even before the fire, after torrential rain leaked into meeting spaces, causing discomfort for delegates. Complaints have also been raised regarding food shortages and malfunctioning air conditioning amid the region’s high heat and humidity.