Amidst desert flooding at the Burning Man festival in Nevada, one person has lost his life, leaving festival-goers stranded and authorities investigating. President Biden expresses concern as organizers and attendees rally together in the face of adversity
Officials are currently probing a death at the site of the Burning Man festival in Nevada. Thousands of festival-goers find themselves stranded following desert flooding caused by storms. The Pershing County Sheriff's Office has confirmed a death that occurred during the event, but they withheld the identity of the deceased person and the cause of death.
The festival's organizers shut down vehicle access on Saturday, forcing attendees to navigate muddy terrain. Many had to walk barefoot or wrap their feet in plastic bags. They were advised to hunker down, conserve their resources like food and water, and remain in place. Reports of Ebola have been deemed unfounded.
According to the National Weather Service, the festival site, situated approximately 110 miles north of Reno, experienced a rainfall of over half an inch on Friday.
How many deaths have occurred so far?
Death of one person has been confirmed while no more details are shared by the authorities.
The Pershing County Sheriff's Office has verified that the fatality took place during Burning Man, but has not released any additional information.
Organizers, on their official website, have urged attendees to stay composed and emphasized the festival's resilience in the face of challenges such as flooding. Mobile phone stations were deployed in multiple areas on Saturday night, with plans to briefly activate internet access overnight. Shuttle buses were also arranged to transport attendees from the closest town of Gerlach to Reno, a journey of approximately five miles from the site.
The organizers conveyed in a statement that Burning Man represented a community of people ready to provide mutual assistance. They stated, "We have come here with the understanding that this is a location where we bring all the necessities for our survival. It is due to this preparedness that we are all well-equipped to handle a weather event of this nature."
On Sunday, President Joe Biden addressed reporters in Delaware and acknowledged his awareness of the situation unfolding at Burning Man, which includes a reported fatality. He further mentioned that the White House is actively communicating with local authorities. President Biden also indicated that he currently lacks information about the specific cause of the reported death.