Panic prevailed in Belem Brazilwhen fire broke out today (20/11/2025) around 19:00 Greek time, at the venue of the COP30, where the United Nations climate talks are taking place, causing the immediate evacuation of the venue and the removal of thousands of delegates.
Thousands of people were attending UN climate talks in Brazil, including members of delegations from around the world, when a fire broke out suddenly in one of the pavilions at the conference.
Smoke could be seen coming from the temporary premises, while crowds of people had already gathered outside, with fire engines quickly arriving at the scene. The government states that the fire is now under control and that there are no injuries.
Authorities are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, which is believed to have started from a short circuit.
The fire broke out as ministers from around the world were in intensive negotiations aimed at breaking the deadlock over fossil fuels, climate finance and trade measures, with just one day left in the two-day session.
– BREAKING: Fire Breaks Out in Pavilion at COP30 Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil
A fire was reported on Thursday, November 20, in one of the pavilions hosting the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Belém, Pará, Brazil. Security personnel ordered the immediate… pic.twitter.com/qZB7zvtzwz
— The Informant (@theinformant_x) November 20, 2025
BREAKING: A fire has broken out at the COP30 Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil… pic.twitter.com/Dii9rCmabI
— Volcaholic (@volcaholic1) November 20, 2025
URGENT! The COP30 pavilion is being set on fire right now. ATTENTION: the place where the event took place belongs to the Assembly of God of Pará by Pastor SamuelCâmara. The possibility of arson cannot, under any circumstances, be ruled out. pic.twitter.com/2cJdGLAL4T
— Guedinho and his Fans (@GuedinhoeFans) November 20, 2025
COP30 is the 30th annual Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is the main multilateral decision-making forum, where almost all the countries of the world come together to agree on actions to deal with the climate crisis.