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Festivals •
At least 73,000 people gathered this week at the Burning Man festival, a nine-day celebration in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, dedicated to celebrating community, art, self-expression, and self-sufficiency. This countercultural event, located 110 miles north of Reno, brings together tens of thousands of artists, musicians, and activists from across the country.
However, heavy rains in the desert area since last Thursday have turned this gathering into a real nightmare. This weekend, at least 70,000 attendees were trapped amid massive floods. Since then, access to the venue has been closed.
The Burning Man organization itself reported that between 0.6 t0 0.8 inches of rain fell at the festival site from Friday to Saturday. It happened precisely on the «big night» of the event when the audience expected to witness the burning of the iconic wooden sphinx. However, the weather conditions forced it to be postponed, and it was already too late to escape as the mud had trapped cars, bicycles, and all means of transportation, leaving thousands of people stranded. In the midst of this situation, it’s worth noting that the popular festival has a survival guide stating that each attendee is «responsible for their own survival, safety, and well-being» in Black Rock.
It seems that with the severe floods, this warning has become a reality. The organization has urged the trapped individuals to conserve their food, water, and fuel and to stay in their vehicles and tents, avoiding venturing out on their own. However, this advice was not followed, as hundreds of people, including celebrities like model Kelly Gale, DJ Diplo, or comedian Chris Rock, walked through the desert to escape.
«Half of us stayed, and the other half left. It was very difficult to leave, but the good thing was to ensure there was enough food and water for those who stayed. Paying to make sure everyone stayed safe and got out okay,» Gale wrote on her Instagram account.
A Death Under Investigation & Latest Updates
In addition to this distressing situation, the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office in northern Nevada has announced the death of at least one person at the festival. «Considering that this death is still under investigation, no further information is available at this time,» they announced in an official statement released by NBC News. The organization has also supported the event organizers’ decision to keep the more than 70,000 people waiting in Black Rock. «Some vehicles have been able to leave the Playa, but they have caused damage to the surface, and it is not recommended at this time,» they added.
During the morning today in Nevada, the Burning Man organization communicated that festival access roads are still too muddy for attendees to leave the venue. They anticipate that the «exodus» will officially begin at noon in Black Rock. In the meantime, attendees are urged not to leave and are encouraged to consider delaying their departure until next Tuesday. It’s worth noting that the festival has not made any statements regarding the ongoing death investigation.
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