Burning Man panic as 70,000 stranded and urged to ration food after storm chaos
The eagerly anticipated Burning Man Festival is at risk of being a washout with weather issues causing chaos for festival-goers.
Those at the site in Nevada - said to be over 70,000 people - have now been told to conserve any food and water supplies with access in and out of the campsite having been "halted," according to the annual event's organisers. They've said the Black Rock Desert location is now such a mud bath that "no driving is permitted until the playa surface dries up, with the exception of emergency services".
In a statement to the Mirror, representatives said: "Due to heavy rain, the gate and airport in and out of Black Rock City at the Burning Man event will remain closed as of 9am Saturday 9/2. Ingress and egress are halted. No driving is permitted until the playa surface dries up, with the exception of emergency vehicles. Participants are encouraged to conserve food, water, and fuel, and shelter in a warm, safe space. We will keep the community informed on a regular basis."
On Twitter, organisers also warned people to "stay prepared for adverse weather conditions continuing through the night and into Saturday."
Are you at the festival? Email [email protected]
Serena Williams finally breaks silence on Will Smith Oscar slap one year on
Some of those in attendance at the iconic event, which often features all-night raves, a burning effigy and an "Orgy Dome" have been taking to social media throughout the day to share the less-than-ideal conditions. One Twitter user sarcastically changed the annual event's name to "Wetting Man" as they shared a video of the mud-soaked campsite. "No one is getting in or out of here anytime soon" they commented on the video which showed them wearing plastic bags over their shoes to protect themselves slightly from the conditions.
Comedian Chris Rock was seemingly in attendance too, taking to Instagram to share the disgusting toilet situation, informing people there had been no way to empty the cabins. Sharing a snap of a row of port-a-loos, he wrote: "Also from what I understand, because of the flooding, the port-o-potties reportedly can't be emptied. And because the gates are closed, people can't get in to fill generators or deliver supplies."
Festival-goers have been warned by organisers to conserve their supplies (Reno Gazette Journal Video)He followed it up on a later Story with a video of the sodden ground with puddles of mud and footprints squelched into the surroundings.
It's the latest issue to hit the event, which is running from August 27 to September 4. Initially, festival-goers were warned to delay their arrival due to the treacherous weather conditions. Storm Hilary had threatened the event in the days leading up to it.
The conditions have continued to get worse (Reno Gazette Journal Video)Again choosing Twitter as their point of contact, the official account penned prior to the event: "The gate will remain closed until at least noon PT on Tuesday 8/22. If you were planning to travel to BRC with a Work Access Pass, delay your plans. DO NOT drive to Gerlach. We will post another update by 10am PT Tuesday 8/22. Stay safe!"
Then, traffic in - when it was allowed - was dramatically blocked by anti-capitalist climate activists. Rangers however stormed through their blockades and arrested protestors at gunpoint.
Chris Rock shared an image of the port-a-potty situation (chrisrock)In previous years celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Heidi Klum have headed to the desert for the immense party, which costs around $575 for a ticket with $150 parking spots. When Heidi attended the festival last year she donned a super skimpy outfit which comprised of a black star-print bikini and a hat. A photo of her was uploaded online as she walked through a dusty area at the campsite. Meanwhile, when Karlie Kloss attended, she posed in a sultry frock with a thigh-high split while beaming beside Kaia Gerber and Cindy Crawford.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
