Tens of thousands of people remain stranded at the annual gathering site of "Burning Man" in the heart of the Nevada desert, which has transformed into a marshland due to heavy rainfall resulting in the tragic death of one participant.
The police in the state of Nevada, in the western United States, announced on Saturday that they are investigating a death that occurred "during this episode of heavy rainfall." However, no further details were provided about the circumstances of the incident.
"Burning Man," an annual event that combines celebration of counterculture and spiritual retreat, was initiated in 1986 in San Francisco. Since the 1990s, the event has been hosted in the Black Rock Desert, a protected area in northwestern Nevada, where organizers are committed to preserving its environment.
Videos shared on social media depict the vast playa area, the outdoor setting of the event, now visibly transformed into rugged terrain with impassable pathways.
Responding to a question from CNN, Nathan Carmichael, the county sheriff, stated that "just over 70,000 people" were stuck at the site on Sunday morning.
Access to Black Rock City, the name of the gathering site situated several tens of kilometers away from the nearest residential areas, was closed on Friday due to severe weather conditions.
Some individuals, stricken by panic, have attempted to leave the site on foot, sometimes wearing plastic bags as makeshift footwear, to reach the sole viable road located approximately eight kilometers away.
Follow the latest news on Google News
