The United Nations climate change talks in Brazil, COP30, have been halted due to a fire breaking out inside the venue in Belém.
According to the BBC, its journalists saw flames and smoke in the pavilion area before they were rushed outside where fire engines raced past. The Brazilian government says that the fire is now under control and that no-one has been injured.
Flames burned a hole through the sheeting that covers the venue, which is in a former aerodrome.
The cause of the blaze is currently unknown, though one eyewitness told the BBC it may have been an electrical fire.
Hundreds of attendees are now sitting on the ground or on plastic chairs outside amid high heat and humidity.
A woman was transported in a wheelchair, though it is unclear whether this was related to the fire.
Several country delegations were forced to take shelter under a petrol station roof, according to a UK delegation member, who added that the fire has disrupted ongoing negotiations.
The UN, which organises the COP climate change conferences, said firefighters are inspecting the venue to ensure safety, and Brazilian authorities have temporarily taken control of the summit site.
Thousands of delegates from nearly 200 countries are attending the climate talks, which aim to advance international action on climate change.
Iran accuses the United States of breaching a ceasefire after an alleged attack on a commercial ship in the Gulf of Oman...
A coalition led by a pro-Russian Eurosceptic was on track to form Bulgaria’s next government preliminary r...
Pope Leo XIV has urged Angolans to move beyond decades of division, as tens of thousands gathered for Mass and prayers during his visi...
Concerns grew on Monday (20 April) that the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, due to expire on Tuesday, might not ...
Police said a gunman shot dead seven of his own children and another child early on Sunday morning in S...
Iran accuses the United States of breaching a ceasefire after an alleged attack on a commercial ship in the Gulf of Oman, vowing retaliation, after President Donald Trump said U.S. forces seized and disabled a vessel trying to bypass the blockade.
A coalition led by a pro-Russian Eurosceptic was on track to form Bulgaria’s next government preliminary results from the Balkan nation’s parliamentary elections showed on Monday (20 April).
Pope Leo XIV has urged Angolans to move beyond decades of division, as tens of thousands gathered for Mass and prayers during his visit to the country. Speaking to large crowds near Luanda on Sunday (19 April), the pope described Angola as a “beautiful yet wounded country”.
Concerns grew on Monday (20 April) that the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, due to expire on Tuesday, might not hold after Washington’s Navy seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to run its blockade of Iranian ports, with Tehran vowing to retaliate.
Dozens of Chinese-made humanoid robots have demonstrated improvements in speed, balance and autonomous navigation after completing a half-marathon in Beijing on Sunday (19 April), in a showcase of the country’s fast-developing robotics sector.
The U.S. Navy has forcibly intercepted and boarded the Iranian cargo ship TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman after it attempted to breach the ongoing naval blockade. President Trump confirmed that the vessel was neutralised and seized by Marines following a direct strike on its engine room.
Two Indian-flagged ships were shot at in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, India's Foreign Ministry said, as Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again, less than 24 hours after reopening the 167km long sea passage, which is essential for global trade.
Six people have been killed after a man opened fire in a supermarket in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Saturday (18 April). Ukraine's Security Service said it was investigating the incident as a "terrorist act."
Global leaders and diplomats gathered in southern Türkiye on 17 April for the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, focusing on uncertainty, conflict, and the future of global cooperation.
Communities in Mexico have taken to the streets to protest against an ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that has killed wildlife and damaged coral reefs over several weeks.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that the Earth’s climate system is becoming increasingly unstable, with new evidence showing a growing imbalance in how the planet absorbs and releases energy.
China is preparing for a year of extreme weather in 2026, with authorities warning the country could face both severe flooding and widespread drought, underscoring mounting climate pressures.
Heavy rain, flash floods and lightning strikes across Afghanistan have killed 28 people and destroyed hundreds of homes in Kabul, Herat and other provinces.
Central Asia is stepping up efforts to address rapid glacier melt, following United Nations warnings of unprecedented climate pressure on mountain ecosystems.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment