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Thousands Remain Stranded at Burning Man

Authorities in Nevada are conducting an investigation into a fatality that occurred at the Burning Man festival site. Thousands of festivalgoers found themselves stranded on Saturday night due to flooding caused by storms in the Nevada desert.

Organizers took the precaution of closing vehicular access to the festival, prompting attendees to navigate through mud, with some resorting to walking barefoot or improvising with plastic bags on their feet. Festivalgoers were advised to remain in place and conserve essential supplies such as food and water.

The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death during the festival but provided limited information, including the identity of the deceased and the suspected cause of death, as the investigation continued.

Organizers, on their official website, reassured participants, emphasizing the festival’s resilience in the face of adverse conditions like flooding. They also announced the deployment of cellphone trailers in multiple locations and the temporary reopening of internet services overnight. Additionally, shuttle buses were arranged to transport attendees from the nearby town of Gerlach, approximately five miles (eight kilometers) away from the festival grounds.

The organizers emphasized the Burning Man community’s preparedness for self-sufficiency, stating, “Burning Man is a community of people who are prepared to support one another. We have come here knowing this is a place where we bring everything we need to survive. It is because of this that we are all well-prepared for a weather event like this.”

Celebrity DJ Diplo shared a video on Instagram, recounting his and comedian Chris Rock’s journey through the mud, hitching a ride with a fan’s pickup truck after walking six miles.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, responsible for overseeing the Black Rock Desert where the festival is located, announced that vehicle gates would remain closed for the duration of the event, which had started on August 27 and was originally scheduled to conclude on Monday.

The National Weather Service in Reno reported that over half an inch of rain fell at the festival site on Friday, located approximately 110 miles (177 kilometers) north of Reno, with an additional quarter-inch of rain expected on Sunday.

The Reno Gazette Journal noted that organizers had begun rationing ice sales, and all vehicular traffic on the festival grounds had been halted, resulting in portable toilets being unable to be serviced.

Late on Saturday, officials confirmed that the event’s entrance remained closed, and there was uncertainty about when attendees could leave the festival grounds. Emergency vehicles were the only ones allowed to drive, and organizers were unable to provide a specific time for the roads to become safe for RVs or vehicles to navigate. However, they expressed hope that if weather conditions improved, vehicles might be able to depart by late Monday.

These announcements came just before the festival’s climax, when the traditional burning of a large wooden effigy was scheduled to take place on Saturday night.

The Associated Press attempted to contact both the Bureau of Land Management and the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office for further information but had not received immediate responses.

Despite the challenges posed by the adverse weather, festivalgoers found ways to enjoy themselves, engaging in activities like beer pong and dancing.

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