A fire erupted in a pavilion of the UN climate talks in Brazil on Thursday, forcing panicked delegates to run for the exits and interrupting negotiations.

UN and security crews rushed with extinguishers to put out the fierce blaze, which quickly tore a hole in the fabric roof of the COP30 summit site in Belem as smoke engulfed the corridor and people shouted "fire!"

The fire was brought under control and no injuries were reported, Brazilian Tourism Minister Celso Sabino said. The cause was not immediately known but Sabino said it might have resulted from a short circuit or other electrical malfunction.

The UN body that oversees the COP talks said there had been "limited damage" but the site would reopen no sooner than 8:00 pm (2300 GMT).

Firefighters arrived at the scene as smoke billo

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