An inquiry has been initiated into the fatality that occurred during heavy rainfall at the Burning Man festival in Nevada, USA. Due to the inclement weather, numerous attendees are currently stranded at the festival, as the rain has transformed the terrain into a deep, slippery mud.

Festival-goers have been advised to seek shelter and ration their food supplies, while the roads leading to and from the event have been closed, as vehicles are struggling to navigate the muddy conditions.

Burning Man typically takes place in the arid and dusty Black Rock Desert. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Pershing County Sheriff's Office confirmed an ongoing investigation into the death that occurred during this unusual rain event.

However, no additional details regarding the circumstances of the incident were provided, with the statement indicating that the deceased person's family had been notified.

These unexpected rainstorms occurred towards the conclusion of the nine-day festival, coinciding with the arrival of the largest crowds who had come to witness the festival's grand finale—the burning of the colossal wooden effigy. While the most severe rain has subsided, according to BBC Weather, there remains a possibility of sporadic showers and thunderstorms.

It may take several days for the ground to dry sufficiently for people to leave, and as a precaution, attendees have been urged to conserve their supplies of food, water, and fuel.

Furthermore, festival-goers have reported that the festival's restrooms are inaccessible, as the service vehicles are unable to traverse the muddy terrain for maintenance.
However, one festival-goer has told the BBC that the organizers have now been able to empty and restock the toilet facilities, at least in some areas.

According to the sheriff's office, some people who had tried to drive out of the festival had instead made the muddy ground even worse.

Festival-goers told the BBC they watched on as some people tried to drive away - but they quickly became bogged in the thick clay-like mud.

Burning Man's organizers said they currently had no estimated time for when the roads would be dry enough for vehicles to be able to move off the site.

"Monday late in the day would be possible if weather conditions are in our favour... It could be sooner, and it could be later," they said.

There are currently thought to be around 70,000 people stranded at the site, Pershing County Sheriff's Sgt Nathan Carmichael told US media.

Some have managed to leave, however. American DJ Diplo wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he and comedian Chris Rock walked 5 miles (8km) to a road, where they were given a lift by fans.

Others have also had to rely on strangers.

Ashley Smith, who lives in London, told the BBC that he and his friends left a lot of their gear behind and walked to the road, where they managed to hitchhike to San Francisco. The whole journey took 14 hours.

The event's organizers have arranged for buses to pick people up from the road and take them to the city of Reno, more than 100 miles away.

Photos show tents partially submerged in muddy flood water.

Milia Nirshberg, 12, who is at the festival with her father for the second year running, told the BBC that they had let friends stay in their campervan, and were also allowing people to use the van's toilet.

"The people in the tents are having a hard time because it's flooding. Since we're in a campervan we're trying to invite people to come stay with us because they don't have food or water," she said.

Burning Man is one of America's most well-known arts and culture events. Visitors create a temporary city in the middle of the desert and are expected to be largely self-sufficient while they are there.

"We have come here knowing this is a place where we bring everything we need to survive," said Burning Man in a statement. "It is because of this that we are all well-prepared for a weather event like this."

As well as music, the festival usually features giant interactive art installations - but many of the attractions had to be canceled.

Nonetheless, many were trying to make the best of the situation, dancing in the mud to techno music.

"We're taking it as an opportunity to hang out and spend more time with our new friends and old friends in the camp," reveller, Josiah Roe said.

Andy Maddocks, who is also at the festival, told the BBC organizers planned to go ahead with the burning of the wooden effigy on Sunday evening if the weather held.

Burning Man was founded in June 1986 and was first held in Nevada's Black Rock Desert in 1990.

Tickets can be very hard to get and festival-goers sometimes interview to get into popular camps and have to prove their commitment to its ideals.

Some groups spend the entire year planning their camp, artwork, and theme.

But this year there had been worries about the weather and tickets were changing hands on the secondary market at below market rate.

Sad

Not good enough.