(Reuters) – Nevada authorities on Sunday announced that they are conducting an investigation into a death that occurred during a severe rainstorm, which resulted in thousands of attendees at the annual Burning Man festival being stranded in mud. The authorities have asked the revelers to shelter in place and conserve their food and water supplies.
The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office, located in northern Nevada, released a statement stating that the death occurred during a “rain event” on Saturday. However, they did not disclose any details regarding the cause of death or the individual’s identity. The sheriff’s office added, “The family has been notified and the death is under investigation. As the death is still under investigation, there is no further information available at this time.”
The organizers of the event stated on social media that access to and from Black Rock City, where the festival takes place, has been closed for the remainder of the event. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office also confirmed that the entrance to Burning Man has been closed due to flooding and that anyone attempting to enter will be turned away.
According to its website, over 60,000 participants convene in the remote area of northwest Nevada each year to partake in the festival, which involves artistic expression, dancing, and community engagement, at a cost of $575 per person for regular ticket holders. Local media reported an approximate attendance of 73,000 “burners” in Black Rock City.
Named after its signature moment, the festival culminates in the burning of a large wooden structure known as the Man on the penultimate night. Videos shared on social media depicted festival-goers in high spirits, trudging through ankle-deep mud. The event takes place in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, an expansive ancient lake bed referred to as a playa.
“Rain over the last 24 hours has caused conditions to deteriorate, necessitating a suspension of vehicle movement on the playa,” stated the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the agency responsible for managing the festival’s location. “More rain is predicted in the upcoming days, and conditions are not expected to improve sufficiently to allow vehicles onto the playa.”
Burning Man attendee Paul Reder, who has been attending for 22 years, remarked on Saturday via a video call with Reuters that he anticipated it would take at least two days for the area to dry out. Reder mentioned, “Fortunately, we are in a fairly large camp with ample supplies. As a community, everyone is sharing with each other.”
In spite of Reder’s preparedness to endure the situation, some attendees opted to leave the site on foot, embarking on a trek to the nearest highway. Originally a modest gathering in 1986 on a beach in San Francisco, the event now attracts celebrities and social media influencers. It was slated to run from August 27 to September 4.
(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
