This screen grab taken from AFPTV video footage shows emergency crews battling a fire that broke out at a pavilion inside the venue of the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Belem, Para state, Brazil. Photo: AFPTV
A large fire at the venue of COP30 in Belem, Brazil has forced participants to evacuate.
Participants at the United Nations Climate Conference are now either waiting outside the venue or have left.
The lead Pacfic campaigner for Greenpeace Australia Pacific Shiva Gounden, who is at the event, said the fire was at one of the pavilions and ended up burning a hole through the ceiling.
"There was a little bit of hysteria I guess, people a bit fearful," he said.
"So they were running from one side of the building to the other to exit, and then the [UNFCCC] Secretariet asked everyone to evacuate - obsiously through messages etcetera because there's no system you can utilise as a sound system to announce that fire."
Gounden said it was beautiful to see the spirit and care from people across the world to get everyone out safely.
Thousands of people attend the UN climate meeting, including world leaders.
Brazil's tourism minister said the fire was under control and nobody was hurt. It was not yet known what caused the blaze.
RNZ understands there were no casualties or burns, but some first responders were receiving oxygen treatment.
Firefighters battle a fire that broke out in a pavilion at the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference venue in Belem, Para state, Brazil. Photo: PABLO PORCIUNCULA / AFP
Gounden said negotiations will get delayed.
"Beacause they'll have to assess the situation, assess the damage that has been created near the pavilion. And because the roof is open - Belem is known for heavy rain, and tropical torrential rain that falls every day - if they don't cover it that building will be flooded as well."
"This COP has had everything from floods to fire etcetera."
Lisa Williams, part of the delegation from the Pacific Islands Forum, said she was in a side event.
"There were a lot of people yelling fire," she said.
"I think now they're sorting out whether we can get back in there and get back to the crunch time sessions of the COP that really need to go forward."
Security staff told Reuters the alert originated in the area of the venue where nations and organisations have their public-facing stands, known as pavilions.
Delegates, observers and journalists grabbed their bags and belongings and ran for the exits. Police lined up as a barrier to prevent anyone from nearing the area, while a siren pealed in the background.
