A fire has broken out at the Hangar Convention Center in Belém, Brazil, the official venue for COP30, triggering a full evacuation of participants, dignitaries, and staff.
According to local officials, the blaze is believed to have started in the Blue Zone, the restricted area where high-level climate negotiations and closed-door meetings were taking place.
Thick smoke quickly filled sections of the complex, prompting emergency alerts across the venue.
The host country’s fire chief immediately ordered the complete evacuation of the center as firefighters moved in to contain the flames.
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has confirmed the incident, stating that an official update will be issued once the extent of the damage and the status of ongoing negotiations are fully assessed.
Thousands of delegates, including heads of state, climate negotiators, civil society groups, and journalists, were attending sessions when the fire broke out. There are currently no confirmed reports of injuries.
Authorities say investigations into the cause of the blaze will begin once the area is secured.