BREAKING NEWS: Fire forces evacuation at UN climate talks in Brazil

Melbourne 21 November 2025: A massive fire has broken out inside a pavilion at the United Nations’ climate conference COP30 in Brazil, triggering panic and forcing delegates to run for safety. The blaze erupted in a country pavilion located in the event’s “blue zone,” an area under direct UN control.

Thick smoke quickly filled the area, prompting an immediate evacuation. Outside, a light drizzle drew cheers from delegates as it helped clear the acrid smell. It remains unclear when the conference site will reopen.

Critical Negotiations Interrupted

The fire occurred at a crucial moment, with ministers engaged in intense negotiations aimed at breaking deadlocks over fossil fuel phase-out, climate finance, and trade measures. Only one day remained in the two-week conference.

“This will absolutely delay the process. This is the crucial time when we were supposed to finalise decisions,” said Windyo Laksono of the Indonesian delegation.
“Some of us were still negotiating when the fire broke out. The process will have to pause for now,” he added.

Smoke Inhalation and Medical Response

Dr Kimberly Humphrey, an emergency medicine specialist attending COP30 with Doctors for the Environment Australia, was working in a room nearby when she received alerts about the fire.

She evacuated the site and volunteered at a nearby medical centre, where several individuals were treated for smoke inhalation and emotional distress.

“It’s not something you expect to happen at a conference,” she told AFP.
“Initially there’s disbelief – you think, ‘This can’t be real.’ It’s a mix of fear, uncertainty about emergency routes, and the instinct to help others as a doctor.”

Reports of Hazardous Electrical Conditions

Two women who worked at a pavilion belonging to an international organisation told AFP that the facilities had improvised electrical wiring, exposed cables, and water leaking from the ceiling onto electrical panels.

They said they had previously reported these hazards, but no action was taken.

UN Safety Protocols Under Scrutiny

The incident has raised serious questions about safety standards within the COP30 venue, particularly in critical zones controlled directly by the United Nations. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire.