Burning Man organisers plan to continue with festival’s finale despite one person being found dead

Burning Man festival is planning to go ahead with its finale as thousands remain stranded in the desert.

The fun was cut short at Burning Man (held 27 August to 4 September) when heavy rainstorms hit the Black Rock Desert in Nevada from Friday (1 September) to Saturday morning (2 September).

One person has been reported as having passed away and thousands remain stranded.

Photo by Julie JAMMOT / AFP) (Photo by JULIE JAMMOT/AFP via Getty Images

According to CNN, the desert was hit with two to three months' worth of rain in just 24 hours.

Yesterday (3 September) Sergeant Nathan Carmichael told CNN 'a little over 70,000 people' remain in the Black Rock Desert. And while some have been successful walking out of the festival, 'most of the RVs are stuck in place'.

Burning Man organisers noted the reported death - which was confirmed by authorities and still being investigated - is 'unrelated to the weather'.

Despite the adversity festival organisers and goers face as a result of the flooding - told to conserve food and water - Burning Man is still set to go ahead with its finale for the event.

The desert was hit with two to three months' worth of rain in just 24 hours. (Photo by JULIE JAMMOT/AFP via Getty Images

In an update posted to its website yesterday (3 September) at 6:30pm, organisers stated: "The Man burn will not happen tonight, Sunday, it is now scheduled for Monday 9/4, at 9pm. The Chapel of Babel is scheduled to burn at midnight, Tuesday 9/5 (i.e. the night of Monday 9/4)."

The 'Man burn' sees a huge totem pole set on fire.

X account Burning Man Traffic explained the burning of the pole was postponed until tonight as a result of 'rain and muddy conditions Sunday and an inability to move heavy equipment and fire safety onsite'.

X/@bmantraffic

The post also warned festival attendees to 'stay off of Gate Road,' noting it's 'impassable at the moment' as a result of the rain and mud.

However, it added the weather is hopefully set to improve, with the 'majority of the rain' having 'passed' by today (4 September) bringing 'clear skies and a welcome chance to dry out'.

The statement continues: "We will be opening for Exodus on Monday morning 9/4. We will inform the community as soon as we make the decision by 9am.

"[...] Event operations are functional and responding to evolving conditions. Our communications systems are up and running, as are our power grids.

"Sanitation trucks are moving through the city ensuring portable toilets are functional and clean.

"Rampart, our Advanced Life Support facility, and our contracted fire fighting provider, will remain on site for two additional days.

"Flaggers are stationed at the 8-mile playa entrance to assist with traffic safety and vehicles departing the site.

"Shuttle buses are running from the blacktop (CR34) to Gerlach and Reno, to assist those who choose to walk off the playa."

UNILAD has contacted Burning Man festival for comment.

Topics: News, US News, Weather, World News

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.