A fire at the COP30 climate conference venue in Belém caused a sudden evacuation on Thursday, briefly halting one of the world’s most prominent environmental gatherings. According to officials on site, the incident began inside a kitchen section of the Hangar Convention Center, where thousands of delegates had assembled for the day’s negotiations.
Emergency teams quickly moved attendees out of the building as smoke spread through the structure. Authorities later confirmed that 13 individuals received medical attention for smoke inhalation, though none of the cases were considered life-threatening.
Witnesses described seeing thick, dark smoke rising from one wing of the complex, creating a visible cloud across parts of the city. Videos shared by participants showed crowds gathered outside while firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
Local responders brought the situation under control within a short period, but the disruption forced organizers to suspend ongoing climate discussions. A spokesperson for the Brazilian government, the official host of COP30, said assessments are underway to determine the extent of the damage and when the summit can safely continue.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
