The repercussion was immediate and wide, with a strong presence of photos, videos and real-time reports published by foreign vehicles
The international repercussion of the fire in one of the pavilions, in Belém, was immediate and broad, with a strong presence of photos, videos and real-time reports published by foreign media outlets. The Associated Press highlighted that the fire interrupted negotiations “in the critical final days” and highlighted that the entire complex was evacuated for security inspections. The BBC, with its own photos and videos, reported seeing “flames and smoke” in the pavilion before it was vacated. The vehicle described chaos outside – delegations sheltering under a gas station, people sitting on the ground in intense heat – and recorded that the fire had started due to a possible electrical fault, according to testimony heard by the broadcaster.
The New York Times, also with photo and video, described panic and rushing when “a huge hole” opened in the canvas roof of the convention center. The newspaper contextualized the episode with existing criticisms of the COP30 infrastructure, citing leaks, insufficient air conditioning and security complaints. Reuters reported that the fire was under control, but that it was unclear whether negotiations would resume on the same day. The text described the siren that sent deputies running outside and cited TV footage that showed smoke and flames inside the structure.
The AFP described delegates shouting “fire!” and trying to put out the flames with fire extinguishers, while smoke filled the corridors. Politico, armed with photos, reported scenes of despair and brought statements from authorities – such as Italy’s climate envoy – describing how quickly the fire spread through the pavilion corridor.
The Guardian, in live coverage with videos posted online, reported alarms interrupting debates and showed smoke rising from the temporary structures. The Chinese agency Xinhua classified the fire as “urgent” and briefly reported on the evacuation ordered by firefighters.
Bloomberg, Washington Post and The Telegraph reinforced that the fire occurred at the most delicate moment of the negotiations, with the Telegraph describing “chaos” and videos of delegates fleeing as flames hit stands near the Chinese pavilion.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
