Fire Breaks Out at Brazil COP30 Summit Venue, Participants Evacuated Emergency

A fire broke out on the afternoon of the 20th at the venue of the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, with thousands of participants rushing to evacuate after hearing the news.

The fire occurred in the COP30 venue's “Blue Zone.” The “Blue Zone” houses the pavilions for various parties, as well as office areas for delegations and the media.

UN staff and security quickly grabbed fire extinguishers to put out the blaze, a hole was burned in the exhibition hall roof, corridors were filled with thick smoke, and people were shouting "Fire!".

The fire was brought under control in about six minutes, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The Brazilian Ministry of Health said that 21 people received medical treatment at the scene, 19 of whom suffered varying degrees of smoke inhalation. Twelve people have finished treatment and have been discharged.

After the incident, all meeting agendas for the afternoon were canceled. The conference will conclude on the 21st.

A spokesperson for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change said in a statement that evening that fire brigades had thoroughly inspected the venue to ensure safety, and that the Blue Zone was reopened at 8:40 pm.

According to Al Jazeera, Brazil's Minister of Tourism Sabino played down the seriousness of the fire, saying: "There was a small fire here, and things like this can happen at any large event."

He told reporters: "A small fire like this can occur anywhere on Earth."

Al Jazeera interviewed independent journalist Fernando Ralph Oliveira, who was in the Blue Zone at the time, and shared a video from the scene of the fire.

Ralph said, "I was in the main corridor leading to the conference rooms when I suddenly heard the crowd start running. I had my phone in hand and immediately started recording."

"As I approached the venue, someone ran past me, shouting 'Fire! Fire! Fire!' So I ran for a bit and managed to capture the scene of the fire. But right then, a large number of security personnel rushed towards us, shouting 'Evacuate! Evacuate! Evacuate!'"

Ralph and others being evacuated were then guided to the COP30 food court located outside the exhibition hall.