WORLD / AMERICAS
Fire causes evacuation in pavilion at COP30 in Brazil
By Xinhua Published: Nov 21, 2025 08:25 AM
Security personnel control access inside the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) after a fire broke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

Security personnel control access inside the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) after a fire broke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities.

The incident occurred in the Blue Zone, an area that houses the international stands and the rooms set up for official negotiations, said the organizers.

Brazilian Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino said that the fire, which broke out shortly after 2 p.m. local time, was under control at around 2:30 p.m., with no injuries reported so far.

Helder Barbalho, governor of the Para state, where Belem is located, told local media that the emergency teams are currently probing into two possible causes of the incident -- a generator failure or a short circuit in one of the stands that were set up for the conference.

Security personnel form a human chain to guide people evacuating the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) after a fire broke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

Security personnel form a human chain to guide people evacuating the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) after a fire broke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)


 
Firefighters and staff members inspect the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) after a fire broke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

Firefighters and staff members inspect the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) after a fire broke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)


 
Participants evacuate the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) a fire borke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

Participants evacuate the venue of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) a fire borke out in Belem, Para state, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2025. A fire broke out on Thursday in a pavilion at the ongoing 30th UN Climate Change Conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, prompting evacuations by the fire department, according to local authorities. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)