The UN climate talks COP30 have been evacuated due to a fire breaking out inside the venue in Belém, Brazil.
BBC journalists saw flames and smoke in the pavilion area before they were rushed outside, where fire engines raced past.
The UN said the fire was extinguished after six minutes and 13 people were treated for smoke inhalation. It is not yet known what caused the blaze.
The talks were in the final hours of trying to agree on next steps to tackle climate change, but the fire has disrupted negotiations and the talks remain closed.
Dr. Harshita Umesh, one of the attendees, recounted, It was climbing the walls and onto the ceiling. People were screaming... Then I ran, I think I tripped and fell. She noted that emergency responders had also inhaled toxic fumes.
Emergency medicine specialists reported injuries were mainly due to smoke inhalation, and many attendees expressed shock and trauma after the incident.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with columns of smoke rising through a burned area of the conference center. An investigation is underway to determine the cause, believed by some to be an electrical fire.
Participants were left to seek shelter from the high temperatures outside, and some delegations had to relocate to a nearby petrol station while waiting for the situation to stabilize.
With nearly 200 countries in attendance, the fire is likely to delay crucial discussions about climate change mitigation efforts.
