The authorities in Nevada are investigating one death following a severe rainstorm that left thousands of attendees at the annual Burning Man festival stranded in mud. They have asked the revelers to shelter in place and conserve food and water. The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office stated that the death occurred during a “rain event” on Saturday but did not provide further details about the cause or the identity of the deceased. The sheriff’s office confirmed that the family has been notified and that the investigation is ongoing. At present, no additional information is available.
The organizers of the event announced that access to and from Black Rock City, where the festival is held, has been closed for the rest of the event. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office also mentioned that the entrance to Burning Man has been closed due to flooding and that anyone attempting to enter will be turned away.
Approximately 60,000 participants travel to and from the remote area in northwest Nevada every year to engage in art, dancing, and community activities. A regular ticket costs $575 per person. Local media estimated that around 73,000 “burners” were present at Black Rock City. The festival derives its name from the burning of a large wooden structure, known as the Man, on the penultimate night.
Videos circulating on social media showcased festival-goers joyfully wading through ankle-deep mud. The festival site is located in the Black Rock Desert, a flat, ancient lake bed referred to as a playa.
“Due to the rain in the past 24 hours, vehicle movement on the playa has been completely halted,” stated the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the agency responsible for managing the event’s location. They further added that more rain is expected in the coming days and conditions are unlikely to improve enough to allow for vehicle access.
One attendee named Paul Reder, who has been attending the festival for 22 years, shared in a video call with Reuters that he anticipated it would take at least two days for the area to dry out. Reder mentioned that his camp was well-stocked with supplies and that the community was sharing resources with one another. However, some attendees have decided to leave the site on foot and trek towards the nearest highway.
Burning Man started as a small gathering in 1986 on a San Francisco beach and has evolved into a larger event attended by celebrities and social media influencers. It was originally scheduled to run from August 27 to September 4.
(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Rosalba O’Brien) – Reuters
Credit: The Star : News Feed
