An investigation is underway into the death of an individual during torrential rain at the Burning Man festival in the US state of Nevada. Thousands of festivalgoers remain stranded at the event due to the bad weather, which has turned the ground into deep, slippery mud. Roads in and out of the festival are closed, as vehicles are unable to move through the muck.
Burning Man is traditionally held in the Black Rock Desert, which is typically dry and dusty. However, the rain has made the terrain treacherous and nearly impassable.
The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office announced on Saturday that it is investigating the death, but did not provide any further details about the circumstances. Festival organizers have instructed attendees to conserve their food, water, and fuel while awaiting improved conditions for departure.
Due to the mud, some festivalgoers have tried to drive out of the event, but this has only exacerbated the ground conditions. The mud has made walking challenging as well.
More rain is expected, and authorities have warned that it could be several days before the ground dries up sufficiently for people to leave. The festival’s toilets are also out of use because service vehicles cannot drive on the muddy surface to empty them.
Over 70,000 people had arrived at the festival site before it was closed on Saturday, but the exact number of those still stranded is unclear. Some have managed to leave the site with the assistance of strangers or on foot.
Buses have been arranged to pick up people from the road and transport them to the city of Reno, more than 100 miles away.
The Burning Man festival is known for its giant interactive art installations and the burning of a massive wooden effigy at the end of the nine-day event. However, many of the scheduled activities have been canceled due to the adverse weather conditions.
The festival typically requires attendees to be self-sufficient during their stay, and participants must bring everything they need to survive.
