Overview
- A blaze in the Blue Zone near country pavilions triggered a full evacuation, was controlled within minutes, and caused limited damage with no reported deaths.
- Authorities reopened the conference grounds after safety checks, kept the affected area cordoned off, and canceled evening plenaries before scheduling talks to restart Friday morning.
- Medical tallies varied as the UN first reported 13 people treated, while emergency services later cited 19 for smoke inhalation plus two for anxiety, with some outlets reporting a total of 21.
- The cause has not been confirmed, with preliminary reports pointing to possible electrical issues following earlier complaints about leaks and temporary wiring at the venue.
- The interruption cost several hours in a tense endgame that still lacks a new consolidated text, as Guterres urged defense of the 1.5°C limit and a tripling of adaptation finance and as a group of about 30 countries, including Germany, warned they would not back a deal without a fossil‑fuel exit roadmap.