by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
BELEM, BRAZIL (Worthy News) – Delegates assessed the damage from a fire that briefly spread through several pavilions at the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil on Thursday, the latest setback for the gathering known as COP30.
Officials said 13 people were treated for smoke inhalation, though firefighters brought the blaze under control within six minutes. The entire site was evacuated and remained closed for about seven hours before attendees were allowed to return.
Security barriers were set up to keep participants away from the damaged area, while negotiators resumed meetings in unaffected buildings.
Brazil’s Tourism Minister, Celso Sabino, said the fire started near the China Pavilion, with video showing flames spreading along a wall close to several African pavilions and the Climate Live cultural pavilion. Organizers said the reinforced-fabric structures burned quickly but were contained before reaching the main halls.
The cause was still under investigation, though Para state Governor Helder Barbalho said a generator failure or electrical short circuit may be responsible.
CONTROVERSY OVER SITE PREPARATION
The blaze deepened existing scrutiny over COP30’s infrastructure. Large sections of the Belem venue were still under construction when the summit opened, with exposed beams, unfinished corridors, and workers using drills and jackhammers during pre-summit speeches.
A separate row over a new four-lane highway for COP30—criticized by environmental groups for cutting through areas of the Amazon rainforest—had already raised questions about Brazil’s readiness and credibility as host.
One Belem volunteer, Gabi Andrade, said she was exploring the Singapore Pavilion when she saw black smoke. A security guard pulled her to safety as she screamed, “Fire.” She later said, “It’s so sad for us. We all worked so hard.”
Authorities said the summit’s schedule would continue. However, the incidents have added pressure on Brazil as it seeks to demonstrate it can securely host one of the world’s largest climate gatherings.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
A Christian pastor detained in Nicaragua since July 2025 has been released from prison but placed under house arrest along with five other Christian believers, Worthy News established on Thursday.
An injured Christian pastor in eastern India says recalling Bible verses gave him strength to survive hours of brutal abuse by a Hindu mob that accused him of converting Hindus to Christianity.
U.S. forces carried out five sets of precision strikes against Islamic State targets across Syria between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2, the U.S. military’s U.S. Central Command announced Wednesday.
U.S. forces carried out five sets of precision strikes against Islamic State targets across Syria between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2, the U.S. military’s U.S. Central Command announced Wednesday.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced on Feb. 5 that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to exchange 314 prisoners, marking the first such swap in five months and the most tangible outcome yet from U.S.-brokered talks held in Abu Dhabi. The exchange followed multiple days of trilateral negotiations involving delegations from Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow.
The Supreme Court of the United States on Wednesday declined to take up a legal challenge to California’s newly drawn congressional map, allowing the state to proceed with district lines that effectively eliminate five Republican-held U.S. House seats.
President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran has entered negotiations with the United States because it fears potential military action, as both sides prepare for high-stakes talks expected to take place in Oman. Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Trump said Tehran “doesn’t want us to hit them,” adding that a U.S. naval fleet is in the region as pressure increases.