Belém (HRNW) — A fire broke out at the COP30 climate conference center on Friday, prompting the immediate evacuation of delegates, observers, and journalists, according to a report by Reuters. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and the blaze has since been brought under control.
Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism confirmed that the fire was contained swiftly. Conference organizers stated that the Brazilian fire brigade ordered a complete evacuation of the venue as a precaution.
The alert originated in the pavilion area, where representatives from nearly 200 countries and various global organizations were gathered. Security personnel quickly moved attendees away from the affected zone as police formed a perimeter and sirens echoed throughout the center.
Television footage showed flames and smoke rising from within the conference facility, located at the site of a former airport.
It remains unclear whether delegates will return to resume discussions or if sessions will be postponed. The conference—hosted in the Amazon city of Belém—was nearing its scheduled end on Friday, but negotiators had already missed their self-imposed Wednesday deadline to reach agreements on climate financing, transitioning away from fossil fuels, and other crucial climate issues.
Support climate reporting and independent journalism.
Make a contribution here: https://www.hrnww.com/?page_id=459
