How many people are currently trapped at Burning Man?

According to reports from officials,  about 70,000 people are stranded in the Nevada desert after heavy rains swamped the annual Burning Man festival.

From Friday, September 1st, 2023 until Saturday morning, the distant event site in northwest Nevada received 2 to 3 months’ worth of rain in just 24 hours.

Heavy rains flooded paths and muddy campers’ tents as highways in and out of the festival were unreachable for most cars and the main entrance of the weeklong event was closed.

Attendees were advised to stay in the Black Rock Desert and preserve food, water and fuel, but some elected to hike to the next settlement. The road into and out of the festival has been closed to everyone save emergency vehicles.

According to organisers, only four-wheel-drive vehicles equipped with off-road tyres have been able to effectively depart, while passenger vehicles, other cars, trucks, and RVs have only hampered exit attempts by becoming stuck and blocking others.

“Please do not drive at this time,” festival organisers stated on the festival’s website on Sunday. The National Weather Service predicted 70 percent additional rain into the evening on Sunday, September 4. A flood warning was issued for a region north of Gerlach, near the venue.