The UN climate talks COP30 have been evacuated due to a fire breaking out inside the venue in Belém, Brazil. BBC journalists saw flames and smoke in the pavilion area before they were rushed outside, where fire engines raced past. The UN said the fire was extinguished after six minutes and 13 people were treated for smoke inhalation. It is not yet known what caused the blaze.
The talks were in the final hours of trying to agree on next steps to tackle climate change but the fire has disrupted negotiations and the talks remain closed. It was climbing the walls and onto the ceiling. People were screaming, Dr Harshita Umesh, who was giving a talk next to the place where the fire broke out, told BBC News. Then I ran, I think I tripped and fell.
Dr Umesh, who is a medical doctor, indicated that ambulance staff informed her that first responders inhaled toxic fumes and required oxygen masks. Emergency medicine specialist Kimberly Humphrey, currently helping patients at the COP medical centre, reported that the injuries were primarily from smoke inhalation, with one person suffering lung injury from the smoke.
People were notably anxious and panicked, with reports of UN security guards directing individuals to evacuate. Smoke was observed billowing into the air through a gaping hole in the venue's roof.
After the initial chaos, attendees were left sitting outside in oppressive heat as they awaited further instructions. The fire is expected to delay final agreements in the ongoing negotiations, with reports of some delegations seeking shelter under the roof of a nearby petrol station. The UN has stated that Brazilian authorities have temporarily taken control of the summit site while safety assessments continue. Thousands of attendees from nearly 200 countries were present, all aiming to establish a unified approach to combat climate change.
The talks were in the final hours of trying to agree on next steps to tackle climate change but the fire has disrupted negotiations and the talks remain closed. It was climbing the walls and onto the ceiling. People were screaming, Dr Harshita Umesh, who was giving a talk next to the place where the fire broke out, told BBC News. Then I ran, I think I tripped and fell.
Dr Umesh, who is a medical doctor, indicated that ambulance staff informed her that first responders inhaled toxic fumes and required oxygen masks. Emergency medicine specialist Kimberly Humphrey, currently helping patients at the COP medical centre, reported that the injuries were primarily from smoke inhalation, with one person suffering lung injury from the smoke.
People were notably anxious and panicked, with reports of UN security guards directing individuals to evacuate. Smoke was observed billowing into the air through a gaping hole in the venue's roof.
After the initial chaos, attendees were left sitting outside in oppressive heat as they awaited further instructions. The fire is expected to delay final agreements in the ongoing negotiations, with reports of some delegations seeking shelter under the roof of a nearby petrol station. The UN has stated that Brazilian authorities have temporarily taken control of the summit site while safety assessments continue. Thousands of attendees from nearly 200 countries were present, all aiming to establish a unified approach to combat climate change.
