Featured Image Credit: BBC/TikTok/angiepeacockmsw
Topics: Food and Drink, US News, Weather, Music
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Food and Drink, US News, Weather, Music
Burning Man festival goers have been told to conserve food and water as rain closes a road and traps attendees.
The famed festival, which was founded way back in June 1986 by Larry Harvey and his friend Jerry Goodell, has since reportedly seen more than 70,000 people stuck there on Saturday (2 September).
The annual festival, which is held in Nevada's Black Rock Desert, is one of America's most prolific events.
However, the recent heavy rainfall has since seen the campsite turn into a full-on mud bath.
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In a statement released by Burning Man's official Twitter page, organizers warned festival-goers in Black Rock City to 'help each other stay safe'.
"The gate and airport in and out of Black Rock City remain closed," it continued. "Ingress and egress are halted for the time being. Stay prepared for adverse weather conditions continuing through the night and into Saturday."
In a follow-up tweet, the festival also announced that the gate and airport in and out of Black Rock City would 'remain closed'.
It added: "No driving is permitted except emergency vehicles.
"If you are in Black Rock City, conserve food, water, and fuel, and shelter in a warm, safe space."
Burning Man has since published a '2023 Wet Playa Survival Guide' on its website offering further information on what was going on, what festival-goers can do and what 'other resources' are available to them.
The guide reiterates: "Conserve your food, water, and fuel. If you have extra, share with your neighbors. This is always common-sense in a wilderness environment."
One festival goer, Shervin Natan, told the BBC that despite the muddy conditions, 'the party's still going, it's business as usual'.
"There are worse conditions than this, everyone is helping each other out, that's what Burning Man is all about," he added.
The festival officially started last Saturday (27 August) before being hit by the ends of Hurricane Hilary, leaving organizers to close off the gates to early arrivals.
And, after a continuous amount of torrential rain, the festival is now totally stuck in the mud just one day before people were set to depart and start heading back home.
With a possibility of even more rainfall this evening, it may well ended up being several more days before the ground becomes dry enough for vehicles to eventually leave.
One of the most recent Twitter updates states: "Do not travel to Black Rock City! Access to the city is closed for the remainder of the event, and you will be turned around."
An investigation has also since been launched into the death of a person during the festival, however, no further details have been given about the circumstances of their death at the time of writing.
"The Pershing County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating a death which occurred during this rain event," the Pershing County Sheriff's Office said on Saturday (2 September).
They also stated that the individual's family had been notified.