03 September 2023 , 16:02
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Burning Man festival organisers insist they were "well-prepared" for the weather, but need 'more time' to resolve the situation after news a death is under investigation.
Authorities have confirmed a death at the festival is under investigation as festival-goers were told to remain in place. The death occurred "during this rain event," the Pershing County Sheriff's Office confirmed.
"As this death is still under investigation, there is no further information available at this time," the police said in a statement. Meanwhile organisers say they are more than prepared for bad weather at the festival.
Organisers said in a statement: "We have done table-top drills for events like this. We are engaged full-time on all aspects of safety and looking ahead to our Exodus as our next priority."
Burning Man Project has been responsible for preparing and executing the festival at Black Rock City for over 30 years. During that time, the event has faced considerable other incidents of unruly weather conditions including extreme heat, downpouring rain, and freezing temperatures.
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The festival was shut down as a result of a severe storm (https://eu.rgj.com)The event organisers are relying partially on good faith efforts from participants. Relying on their previously established group principles, they said: "Burning Man is a community of people who are prepared to support one another. We have come here knowing this is a place where we bring everything we need to survive. It is because of this that we are all well-prepared for a weather event like this."
Burners, those who attend the festival, were asked to shelter in place during the storm. Outside of community effort, organisers said that they have met with authorities and "agency collaborators on the local, county, state, tribal, and federal levels."
Moving forward, they will be helping bus people back to Reno if they plan on exiting the playa and leaving the festival. Plus, they have began bringing in mobile cell trailers and opening the Internet which will allow Burners to contact their friends and family with updates easier.
One death is under investigation (https://eu.rgj.com)Organisers said: "We will update the community via our staff networks, our community networks, BMIR, and our X (formerly Twitter ) accounts, and Facebook. Get some rest and spend some quality time with your campmates. We will all get out of this, it will just take time."
The Burning Man Project is continuing to update their 'Wet Playa Survival Guide' with resources and information for Burners and the outside world to stay informed. This is not the first casualty associated with the event. While so far in 2023, there is only one known death under investigation, the festival has documented in their year 'Afterburn' summaries that there have been other deaths.