A fire broke out at the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, on Thursday, briefly disrupting negotiations but leaving the Chinese pavilion unaffected, according to officials. The blaze, which started shortly after 2 p.m. local time, was contained within 30 minutes, with 13 attendees treated for smoke inhalation. Authorities are investigating whether a generator malfunction or electrical short circuit in a temporary structure caused the incident.
The Chinese delegation confirmed in a statement to media that the fire did not originate in their pavilion, which remains operational. The summit, held in the Amazon region, has faced delays in finalizing agreements on climate finance and fossil fuel transitions, missing a Wednesday deadline for consensus among nearly 200 participating countries and regions.
Para State Governor Helder Barbalho emphasized that safety protocols prevented major casualties, while Brazilian Tourism Minister Celso Sabino assured that talks would resume promptly. The incident highlights the challenges of hosting large-scale international events in ecologically sensitive areas.
