A death at the Burning Man festival amid the rain and mud was under investigation, local authorities said Saturday, and attendees were urged to shelter in place as more rain was forecast.
The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office in northern Nevada announced the death, which it said happened “during this rain event.” The sheriff’s office offered few details, including the person’s identity or the apparent cause.
“As this death is still under investigation, there is no further information available at this time,” the office said in a statement.
The office, which previously said people were free to leave the festival amid a lockdown for vehicles coming in, said Saturday night that it supports organizers’ shelter-in-place recommendation for the more than 70,000 estimated to be at the desert event.
“Some vehicles have been able to drive off the Playa, however, those vehicles have caused damage to the Playa surface, and it is not recommended at this time,” the office said.
