4 min readNov 21, 2025 01:29 PM IST
First published on: Nov 21, 2025 at 01:29 PM IST
Around 2.15 pm on Thursday, the sound of fire alarms echoed all throughout the venue of the COP30 summit, United Nation’s annual climate conference being held at the Brazilian city of Belém. Moments later, first responders and volunteers deployed at the venue started evacuating the delegates, visitors and every one present at the venue through the fire exit.
Around 2 pm on Thursday (2230 India time), a fire broke out on the country pavilion in blue zone of the COP venue – one of the major areas where the plenaries, negotiations, media interactions are taking place. After the blaze broke out, the entire venue was cordoned off. However, later on Thursday evening, operations resumed around 9 pm (0530 Friday India time). While no serious injuries were reported, the COP administration said 13 people had been affected and needed medical attention.
“The fire department and UN security officers responded swiftly, and the fire was controlled in approximately six minutes. People were evacuated safely. 13 individuals were treated on site for smoke inhalation. Their condition is being monitored, and appropriate medical support has been provided,” the COP administration said in a statement. Sources in the administration told The Indian Express that the blaze erupted from one of the electrical ducts that are present in the venue.
“There was no explosion, so it’s quite evident that the blaze broke out in one of the electrical units. The presence of combustible items like banners, decorations intensified the blaze furthers. The volunteers tried to extinguish it with the in house extinguishers, however the flames swelled up and a decision to evacuate the space was taken up immediately,” said the source.
Meanwhile eyewitnesses state that the entire pavilion got engulfed with smoke soon after the blaze broke out.
“I was sitting in the Africa Pavilion and suddenly the entire space got filled with smoke. Before we could understand something, the first responders came in and evacuated the space,” said Rafiq Ahmed, a delegate.
The entire COP village has been set up by erecting makeshift tents on a ground – Hangar Convention Centre.
“After the blaze broke out, the tents caught fire and it started spreading. This led to an increase in the smoke due to which visibility became an issue. Many of us were guided out by the firemen out of the venue,” said another eye witness.
After temporarily shutting down the venue following the blaze outbreak, the COP administration carried out a safety audit of the venue. Later in the evening, the administration issued a statement that post assessment the venue has been deemed fit.
“Brazilian authorities have restored all working conditions on the conference premises, secured the post-fire operating permit from the Fire Department, and formally returned the area to the UNFCCC. The Blue Zone has now been reinstated to full operational status and has been reopened as of 8:40 pm today (Thursday). All accredited COP participants are now able to access the COP30 venue, in the usual ways. Please note that the Pavilions area (Zone B) directly affected by the fire will remain inaccessible for the remainder of the conference,” the COP administration’s statement stated.
Meanwhile at the negotiation front, all the countries are yet to come at a conclusion in finalising the final draft of the political document. At present, more than 80 countries including the European Union (EU) are pushing for phasing out of fossil fuel. While countries like India, Saudi Arabia, China and Venezuela have stated that such kind of roadmap should be chalked out on the basis of national interest of every country.
Flames engulf pavilions at the COP30 UN Climate Summit. (Source: AP) 
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