Trapped in Mud, Burning Man Attendees Are Told to Conserve Food
As the festival in the remote Nevada desert became encased in mud after heavy rains on Friday night, the police opened an investigation on Saturday into the death of an attendee.
Thousands of attendees at the Burning Man festival in a remote stretch of the Black Rock Desert in Nevada were told to conserve food, water, and fuel as heavy rainfall trapped them in thick mud.
The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that the family of the victim had been notified, but that no further information was available early Sunday because the investigation was continuing.
Burning Man, which takes place in Black Rock City and began last Sunday, was interrupted by heavy rains on Friday night, and organizers directed attendees to shelter in place as rain poured over the area.
The festival site received more than half an inch of rain overnight on Friday, organizers said. While it had stopped for much of Saturday, more was expected in the evening and into Sunday morning, with a slight chance of thunderstorms, they said.
Except for emergency services, vehicles have also been prohibited around Black Rock City.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office said on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that officials had closed the entrance to Burning Man for the remainder of the event, which ends on Monday.
Festivalgoers could be trapped for several days, organizers said.
“The gate and airport in and out of Black Rock City remain closed,” organizers announced on Saturday morning. ”Ingress and egress are halted until further notice.”
Black Rock City is a temporary community that pops up each year in the middle of a vast desert known as “the playa” for Burning Man. The makeshift town hosts more than 60,000 people every year and is a three-hour drive from the nearest airport, which is more than 100 miles away in Reno.
Videos on social media have shown Burning Man attendees trudging through flooded fields and dense mud. Portable restrooms, R.V. campers, and people appeared to be slathered in the muck. Some tied trash bags around their shoes.
Burning Man, which has been around since the 1980s, is a self-described “community and global cultural movement” that is premised on countercultural principles, such as radical self-expression.
The festival is known to draw crowds of people dressed in eclectic garments and costumes, and it has been popularized over the years by a steady stream of celebrity and mogul attendees.
The event features art installations and culminates with the burning of a giant sculpture of a man, giving it its name.
Tara Saylor, who is attending this year’s festival, told The Los Angeles Times that “Burning Man is radical self-reliance and we’re being put to the test.”
Despite the weather, Burning Man attendees say they were prepared and trained for such conditions. The event is “much different than going to a music festival like Coachella,” said Kaz Qamruddin, who is attending his sixth “burn.”
“We have very smart people here,” he said in a phone interview on Saturday.
People have medical supplies and warm clothes and are helping to keep others safe and dry, he said.
Attendees have also opened their R.V. campers to those who had been staying in tents, which were the most vulnerable to the water, Mr. Qamruddin said.
This year’s Burning Man has had to contend with multiple snags. On the festival’s opening day, environmental activists blockaded the entrance, creating a logjam, NBC News reported.
And with incredibly muddy conditions, water puddled to their ankles and more rain expected tonight, attendees are unlikely to leave until early next week.
Mr. Qamruddin already changed his departing flights to next Friday — after initially planning to leave on Sunday.
“This is a very kind, open, sharing, giving community,” he said. “We’re safe. I feel good.”
Colbi Edmonds and Emma Bubola contributed reporting.
A version of this article appears in print on , Section A, Page 28 of the New York edition with the headline: Thousands Stuck at Burning Man As Rainfall Turns Desert Into Mud. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe
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How have attendees at Burning Man exhibited resilience and adaptability in the face of challenging weather conditions and a closure of facilities?
Ed in elaborate costumes who come to enjoy art installations, music performances, and various forms of self-expression.
However, this year’s festival took a turn when heavy rains hit the area on Friday night, causing the festival grounds to become engulfed in mud. In response to the challenging conditions, organizers advised attendees to conserve their resources, including food, water, and fuel.
Trapped in the mud, festivalgoers have been struggling to navigate the flooded fields and thick muck. Some have resorted to tying trash bags around their shoes to wade through the muddy terrain. Portable restrooms and R.V. campers have also been affected, adding to the difficulties faced by attendees.
Sadly, amidst the chaos, the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office also opened an investigation into the death of an attendee. Details surrounding the incident remain unknown, but the victim’s family has been notified.
Due to the ongoing investigation and the challenging weather conditions, the entrance to Burning Man has been closed for the remainder of the event. This has left thousands of festivalgoers potentially trapped for several days until the situation improves.
Black Rock City, the temporary community that hosts Burning Man each year, is isolated in the vast and remote Black Rock Desert. It takes a three-hour drive from the nearest airport in Reno to reach the festival grounds. As a result, without the ability to leave, attendees must now endure the challenging circumstances caused by the heavy rains.
While the rain had temporarily stopped on Saturday, more precipitation was expected throughout the weekend, including a slight chance of thunderstorms. As a precaution, vehicles have been prohibited from circulating around Black Rock City, except for emergency services.
Burning Man, which has been a part of the countercultural scene since the 1980s, attracts over 60,000 people each year. It is known for its principles of radical self-expression and creativity. Despite the difficulties caused by the mud and the closure of several facilities, attendees have been doing their best to make the most of the festival experience, demonstrating resilience and adaptability even in the face of adversity.
