More than 2,000 people evacuate UN complex after fire alarm

The UN says more than 2,000 people evacuated buildings in the United Nations headquarters complex in New York after a fire alarm went off in the basement.

UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Tuesday that the alarm was checked and it turned out there was no fire.

Haq said the buildings were evacuated when the alarm went off in a fan room "as a precaution in case of potential fire."

Diplomats, staff and visitors were allowed to return to the complex after about 25 minutes.

The fire alarm forced the UN Security Council to suspend an open meeting on Haiti for about 40 minutes. A high-level meeting assessing progress toward meeting UN goals for 2030 to combat poverty, promote good governance and preserve the environment was also delayed.

Source: AP