Nevada officials are currently conducting an inquiry into a fatality following a severe storm that struck the Black Rock Desert in the northern part of the state. This weather event left numerous participants of the Burning Man festival stranded in the desert. The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office has affirmed its ongoing investigation into this single fatality. However, details regarding the individual’s identity and the suspected cause of death have not been disclosed at this time.
The Burning Man Project, in a statement provided to The Hill, acknowledged the report of a man’s demise on Friday. Importantly, they clarified that the incident was not connected to the adverse weather conditions. According to the organizers, their emergency services division received a service call but were unable to revive the individual.
Meanwhile, Mark Deutschendorf, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Reno, reported that over the weekend, certain regions of northwest Nevada experienced rainfall exceeding half an inch. This precipitation level surpasses the typical September average of 0.21 inches of rain in Reno, located approximately 140 miles to the south of the festival grounds.
The substantial downpour led to advisories for festival attendees to remain in their designated shelter areas. In a communication issued at 9 a.m. on Sunday, the event’s coordinators cautioned that numerous vehicles were becoming trapped in dense mud and strongly advised festivalgoers against operating their vehicles.
“Some vehicles with 4WD (four-wheel drive) and all-terrain tires are able to navigate the mud and are successfully leaving. But we are seeing most other types of vehicles that try to depart getting stuck in the wet mud which hampers everyone’s Exodus. Please do NOT drive at this time.”
The word “exodus” pertains to the conclusion of the festival and the departure procedures.
According to Sgt. Nathan Carmichael from the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office, as of Sunday morning, slightly over 70,000 individuals were still marooned on Saturday. He informed CNN that a portion of these individuals managed to depart on foot, while the majority of RVs remained immobilized in their positions.
The annual countercultural gathering draws approximately 80,000 individuals, including artists, musicians, and activists, to the Black Rock Desert. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management declared that the event’s entrance would remain inaccessible for the duration of the festival, which had been slated to conclude on Monday.
Originally, a significant wooden effigy, part of the “Man Burn” tradition, was planned to be set ablaze on Saturday evening. However, due to inclement weather conditions, muddy terrain, and logistical challenges related to fire safety equipment, organizers postponed the event to Sunday. Subsequently, they found it necessary to further delay it to Monday night, as reported on X, formerly known as Twitter.
In response to the situation, a White House representative conveyed that President Biden had been briefed on the matter, and members of the administration were in contact with state and local authorities. President Biden, speaking to reporters in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, advised festival attendees to heed guidance from local officials.
