Access to the site is closed except for emergency services. Organizers do not want cars and campers to leave the site because they will get stuck in the mud, which will only increase the chaos.
Toilets are no longer cleaned and emptied. Visitors with campsites have been asked to provide shelter for festival-goers whose tents do not provide adequate protection against the storm. Police are investigating a death at the property. No further details have been announced yet.
Burning Man is an annual festival in which tens of thousands of visitors gather in the desert to build a temporary Black Rock City and form a community dedicated to art and creativity. Visitors make figurines and jewelry, but can also learn to pole dance. Many works of art are ritually set on fire. The most notable event is the burning of a large human effigy that gave the festival its name.
Burning Man emerged from San Francisco’s alternative circuit, but has become popular with celebrities, social media influencers, and tech entrepreneurs. In recent years, it has been visited by Elon Musk (Tesla), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), singer Katy Perry, and rapper Sean Combs. Many of these celebrities arrived by plane at Black Rock City’s temporary airport. This year, regulators have restricted air traffic, according to the Business Insider news site, because the large number of private planes threatens to cause chaos in the airspace.
Chris Rock and Diplo boarded
Visitors usually suffer from scorching heat and widespread dust, but this year they are exposed to rain, storms and mud. Comedian Chris Rock and DJ Diplo managed to escape. They said they walked eight kilometers through mud to the main road, where they boarded a pickup truck.
Visitors walk around the site carrying garbage bags around their shoes, but end up in mud up to their ankles, eyewitnesses told US media. Amar Singh Duggal walked with his friends to the main road, where they got a lift. “We made it, but it was hell,” Dougall told CNN. The mud formed thick clumps on their shoes. “We felt like we were walking with two big cylinder blocks at our feet,” Dougall said.
However, the problems are not entirely unique. In 2014, Burning Man had to turn festival goers back due to heavy rain. Despite everything, many festival-goers are making the best of it, as Hannah Boerhorn told CNN: “People are making clay statues.”
“Friendly communicator. Music trailblazer. Internet maven. Twitter buff. Social mediaholic.”
More Stories
Duets and surprises in the “Sing Again” semi-final
What graceful Flemish woman did we spot without textiles in Diestelbergen?
Billie Eilish’s new album is out tomorrow, but already tonight in the Brussels studio: “Typical Billie but innovative”