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COP30 Negotiations Disrupted as Fire Erupts Inside Summit Venue in Brazil

Negotiations at the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, were thrown into sudden confusion on Thursday after a fire broke out inside the main conference venue, prompting the emergency evacuation of thousands of delegates at a crucial stage of the talks.

The incident unfolded just as global negotiators were pushing to finalise a draft agreement aimed at strengthening worldwide climate commitments. With less than 24 hours to the scheduled close of the summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres had earlier appealed for an ambitious and decisive outcome, especially concerning the highly contested global transition away from fossil fuels.

According to security footage reviewed by officials, flames erupted within an exhibition pavilion shortly after midday. The fire spread quickly across an internal fabric lining before response teams were able to extinguish it.

Emergency services confirmed that 13 people were treated for smoke inhalation, though no fatalities were recorded. Fire authorities said preliminary findings suggest the blaze likely originated from electrical equipment — possibly a microwave — and was fully contained within six minutes.

The brief but disruptive incident temporarily halted negotiations, raising concerns about delays to a final deal. Summit organisers, however, said discussions would resume once safety clearance was confirmed.