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, who was giving a talk next to where the fire broke out, described a scene of panic where it was climbing the walls and onto the ceiling. People were screaming. She recounted her fear as she made her escape.
Emergency responders on-site treated several people for smoke inhalation, and the injuries have been primarily related to smoke inhalation incidents. There's a huge panic, people have been running out of here, remarked BBC Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt shortly after the outbreak.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the cause of the fire might have been electrical, with several delegations facing interruptions for their meetings as they were evacuated outdoors.
Authorities from Brazil have taken over the safety checks of the venue, and the UN is currently reassessing the situation to ensure all participants' safety. Thousands of delegates from nearly 200 countries are present in hopes of making progress towards combating climate change.
