VIDEO: Tens of Thousands of Burning Man Festival Participants Stranded in Nevada Desert Due to Rain
Tens of thousands of participants at the Burning Man music and arts festival have been stranded in the Nevada desert due to heavy rains, according to Reuters.
The entrance to the event site, Black Rock City, is closed until the end of the festival, as stated in the organizers' announcement on social media. Attendees have been urged to conserve water and food.
“The rainfall over the last 24 hours has created a situation that requires a complete cessation of vehicle traffic in the Playa,” said a statement from the Bureau of Land Management, which oversees the area where the event occurs. “More precipitation is expected over the next few days, and conditions will not improve enough for vehicles to enter the Playa.”
According to organizers, more than half an inch of rain fell in Black Rock City overnight. The event's website notes that over 60,000 participants arrive each year in remote northwestern Nevada, gathering in a temporary city to engage in art, dance, and social interaction. Local media report that there are currently over 70,000 participants in Black Rock City.
The festival derives its name from its culminating event — the burning of a large wooden structure on the penultimate night. Initially started in 1986 on a beach in San Francisco, the event now attracts celebrities and social media influencers. It was scheduled to take place from August 27 to September 4.