The Brazilian Minister of Tourism guarantees that the construction materials of the pavilion where COP 30 is taking place are fireproof and that the causes of the fire are yet to be determined.
The fire that broke out this Thursday in COP30 forced the evacuation of the building, but prior care was taken when constructing the pavilions, he claimed Celso Sabino de Oliveira, Minister of Tourism of Brazil.
According to the minister, in statements to journalists, “when the structure was built [do edifício]the lining and covering are flame-retardant” so “this care was taken previously during the construction of these pavilions”.
Celso Sabino de Oliveira also added that “there was a start of fire”, but the cause had yet to be determined. On the table, for example, is the possibility of a short circuit caused by a cell phone being charged, the minister speculated.
The pavilion was evacuated “for security reasons”.
It should be noted that the fire broke out in the “Blue Zone” of the summit, where ministers and negotiators were gathered, shortly after 2pm in Brazil (5pm in mainland Portugal). The focus of the fire was near the Africa Pavilion, which is located in the Pavilion of Countries, dedicated to the official exhibitions of national and international delegations.
