Massive Fire Breaks Out At COP30 Venue In Brazil’s Belem, Firefighting Operations Underway

Belem: The COP30 UN venue, which was set to host the United Nations climate conference in Brazil's Belem, was engulfed by a massive blaze on Thursday evening, triggering a panic-like situation. According to reports, the fire, which began near the China Pavilion, one of the many temporary structures erected for side events, quickly spread to adjoining pavilions, turning into a massive fire.

Prompted by the massive fire information, the concerned authorities quickly rushed to the site and immediately evacuated the venue. On information, the firefighting teams arrived at the scene and initiated a full-scale rescue operation. Notably, the blaze erupted in a pavilion tucked inside the convention centre that was hosting more than 50,000 diplomats, journalists and activists for the global climate summit. The organisers confirmed that efforts to douse the flames were initiated and no one was reported hurt.

Though the situation was brought quickly under control, the sudden incident left delegates, journalists and volunteers in a panic situation for the exits, and it remained unclear whether the high‑level talks would be able to resume later that day or early the following morning. 

Tourism Minister Celso Sabino, speaking to reporters at the site, explained that the fire appeared to have started close to the China Pavilion, a hub for a series of sideline events. Samuel Rubin, who oversees an entertainment and culture pavilion, noted that the blaze soon leapt to nearby structures, including several Africa pavilions and a youth‑focused pavilion.

Several video footages captured the terrifying sight of towering flames gripping the canvas‑covered walls of the fabric‑type pavilions, which are typically built with three walls and a floor and are reinforced for temporary use.

Para State Governor Helder Barbalho suggested that a generator failure or a short circuit in a booth could have ignited the fire. The venue, still under construction when the conference opened, was a maze of exposed beams, open plywood flooring and metal‑meshed corridors that seemed to lead nowhere outside the main convention centre. The sound of drilling and jackhammering could be heard during a pre‑summit event, as world leaders delivered speeches while workers hurried around unfinished pavilions draped in plastic sheeting.

As per reports, among those caught up in the chaos was Gabi Andrade, a volunteer from Belem who had been handling accreditation for the past three weeks. Reportedly, she had wandered into the Singapore Pavilion when the fire broke out. A security guard grabbed her hand, took her toward the exit.

The evacuation was ordered by fire officials, who cleared the whole venue while crews worked to contain the blaze. Although the fire was declared under control, the disruption has also led to uncertainty over the final stages of the two‑week summit. The UN climate body has promised to keep delegates updated as safety checks are completed and a decision is made on when the talks will continue.

Further details regarding the fire incident are awaited.