An inquiry has been initiated into the demise of an individual during heavy rain at the Burning Man festival in Nevada, USA. Severe weather conditions have left thousands of attendees stranded, as the grounds have become saturated with deep, slippery mud. Festival-goers have been instructed to remain in place and conserve their provisions, as the roads in and out of the venue are impassable for vehicles, BBC reports.
Burning Man is traditionally held in Nevada's dry and dusty Black Rock Desert. The Pershing County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that they are investigating the death that occurred in these rainy conditions, but no further details have been provided. Roads leading out of the festival have become even more treacherous due to the futile attempts of some to drive through the mud.
The saturated ground has made walking difficult, with a two-mile journey taking two hours, according to one attendee. The soil, typically as hard as concrete, transforms into a slippery, muddy quagmire when wet, as the rain cannot penetrate or runoff, creating standing water. Authorities anticipate further rainfall and have cautioned that it may be several days before the terrain is dry enough for evacuation.
In light of this, attendees have been advised to conserve their food, water, and fuel. Furthermore, festival toilets are unusable as service vehicles are unable to access them due to the muddy conditions. While it remains uncertain how many attendees are still at the site, more than 70,000 people had arrived before the closure of the festival.
Some individuals have managed to depart with the assistance of others or on foot. Festival organizers have arranged for buses to pick up stranded attendees and transport them to Reno, a city over 100 miles away. Burning Man typically spans nine days and is renowned for its large interactive art installations and the ritualistic burning of a colossal wooden man.
Despite the disruptions caused by the rain, many participants have attempted to make the most of the situation, dancing in the mud to techno music. Burning Man was inaugurated in 1986 and was first held in Nevada's Black Rock Desert in 1990. It is characterized by its self-sufficiency, as attendees are required to bring everything necessary for their survival.
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