COP30 Venue Evacuated Following Fire
Belém, Brazil – The United Nations climate talks, COP30, experienced an evacuation of its venue in Belém, Brazil, after a fire occurred within the premises. Flames and smoke were observed in the pavilion area, prompting the evacuation of attendees.
Brazilian government authorities have reported that the fire is now under control and no injuries have been confirmed.
Incident Details
The fire caused a hole in the sheeting covering the venue, which is situated in a former aerodrome. Visual accounts indicate an individual deploying a fire extinguisher at the blaze.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. An eyewitness account suggested an electrical fire as a potential origin. One individual was transported from the scene in a wheelchair; however, a direct connection to the fire has not been established.
Summit Impact
The COP30 summit is being attended by thousands of delegates from nearly 200 countries, engaged in negotiations regarding climate change. A representative of the UK delegation confirmed that the fire incident resulted in the disruption of scheduled negotiations, leading delegates to return to their accommodations.
Further information regarding the cause and full impact of the fire is pending from the UN, the organizer of the summit.