Fire causes evacuation in pavilion at COP30 in Brazil

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. [Photo/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.